In a previous article, we provided information on “Saint David,” the bell now residing on the north end of the monastery. Its sound is familiar to generations associated with the Abbey. Dom Aelred Wall donated the bell to the school in 1941, upon his entry into the monastic community, and it has called the faithful here to prayer ever since. It was moved from its original setting in the old priory chapel, now long demolished, and was housed adjacent to the monastery, outside, where its ringing would be audible without overwhelming. The swinging motion of the bell, however, did overwhelm – the housing upon which it rested and the framing and mechanics that held it in place and enabled it to swing, evermore tenuously so as time went on. But even with its mechanics modified to hammering rather than swinging, the physical vibration of the bell, as well as the rigors of Rhode Island weather, have taken their own toll. This past week, Luis Bizarro began the much needed repair work to the throne of masonry beneath Saint David, which has noticeably begun to crack and crumble. 

 

Extensive cracking visible in the masonry

The cracking had become so severe that Luis feared the next ringing of the bell might depose David from his throne, toppling the historic Meneely creation. He notes that the masonry relied too heavily on the concrete filling, rather than interlacing the stones sufficiently to hold the edifice in place amidst the vibration and weathering. Extensive cracking is readily visible throughout the small tower. Luis has done a good deal of masonry work on campus, and is annually visible repairing wear and tear to much of the the steps of the church, RLH Building, and dining hall. His handiwork is also visible in the tightly re-constructed stone wall incorporated into the Carlos Araujo memorial adjacent to the track. His training in masonry began in his native Azores, where he learned the trade from his cousins. He remarks that in the Azores, construction is done primarily with stone and concrete, which provided him ample work for business and for refining his craft. He adds to that over twenty years of additional experience from his time in the United States, the many years of work in masonry enabling him to take on this array of tasks as part of his full time work with the maintenance crew of the School.
 

Luis Bizarro at work in repairing the damage
 

The Carlos Araujo'96 Memorial

We are grateful for the meticulous and patient labors Luis brings to the task, a quite monastic type of work. And grateful to know that Saint David will continue to remind us of the sanctity of time, of each hour, remembering that, thanks to his work, this bell does indeed toll for us.