On most Sunday mornings, the town of Princess Anne, Maryland, is treated to the unique sound of change ringing from the tower bells at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The six bells, which were cast by Eijsbouts Foundry of Asten, Netherlands, were installed in the church's tower in 1993 as part of St. Andrew’s celebration of its 300 year anniversary.

The bells, which are rung only by live, human ringers, do not play a tune; rather, they are rung in a changeable sequence or pattern – hence the name, change ringing bells. The change ringing bells produce an audio puzzle of sorts. While there are many, many bell towers in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, there are fewer than 60 towers in North America. The bells at St. Andrew’s, Somerset Parish, were the first change ringing bells in Maryland. There is now a second set of bells at Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick, Maryland (information provided by the North American Guild of Change Ringers). The St. Andrew’s bells are rung under the direction of tower captain, Tish Lentz.

The Names of St. Andrew's Bells

As is traditional, the bells at St. Andrew’s have names. According to the memorial plaque in the church’s vestry, immediately below the bell tower, and in a parish history book, Of Ancient and Apostolic Lineage: Somerset Parish 1692 – 1992(Beauchamp, et al., Arcadia Publications, 1999), the bells, beginning with the 189 pound treble bell, and ending with the 402 pound tenor bell, are:

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