Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Shown is a look towards the sanctuary of the Old Stone Church which held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. A hemp rope which can be used to operate the bell hangs down onto a lower level of the steeple. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Shown is a window inside of the church steeple which faces Main St. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company looks down through an opening in the steeple as he works on installing a new steel yolk to support the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company works on installing a new steel yolk to support the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company works on installing a new steel yolk to support the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company works on installing a new steel yolk to support the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company works on installing a new steel yolk to support the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company works on installing a new a new electronic tolling hammer, shown left. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Nick Volkman from The Verdin Company looks over the gear mechanisms which operate the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Shown are the gear mechanisms which operate the bell. The church bell was cast in 1798 by the Fenton Cochran Bell Foundry. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. Shown is a window inside of the church steeple which faces Main St. The Old Stone Church held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier

Restoration work on the bell of the Old Stone Church was near completion on Feb. 8 culminating in a two year project that saw work done to the outside of the church’s steeple, which reaches 196 feet in height, and replacement of parts of the church bell for safety and operational reasons. The Old Stone Church.which is located across from town hall, shown left, held its first services in 1711 with Pastor Jacob Hemingway, the first student at Yale University which was then called the Collegiate School. Wesley Bunnell / The Courier