On December 7 from 2:30 – 3 pm the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor (UUSB) will provide a public holiday performance for downtown Festival of Lights participants from the church’s historic bell tower. The church is located on Park Street behind the Bangor Public Library, and its chimes, which are unique to Bangor, were once named one of the finest sets in New England. “We are celebrating the centennial of the chimes this year, and we couldn’t think of a better way to honor the occasion then to share this unique treasure with the community during this joyous time,” shared Rev. Andrew Moeller, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor. The chimes, which fill downtown Bangor with a rich, beautiful sound, are typically played before Sunday church services or during special occasions. Church member, Rissa Moore, will be the performer during the afternoon of the Festival of Lights. Moore is musically trained and has been playing the chimes for 10 years. She is one of several congregation members that rotate the duty of performing. Moore shares, “I am delighted to have this opportunity to play our chimes for festival goers. Playing the chimes is a time-honored tradition for our church that has brought joy to our congregation for generations, and now we get to extend that joy outward for others to experience.” The chimes were presented to the First Universalist Church of Bangor in 1919 by Mrs. James Adams in memory of her daughter, Madeline. Originally purchased for $12,000, the set contains ten chime bells made from Lake Superior copper and weighing eight tons. The chimes receive routine inspections to ensure that they ring beautifully for years to come.

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