Shimla’s iconic church bell will ring after 38 years this Christmas

After 38 years, the bell atop Shimla’s landmark Christ Church on the Ridge will ring in Christmas. “We had been listening to the bell and the chimes since childhood but they stopped ringing 38 years ago. The church did not have adequate funds for repair,” says Victor Den, 62, a mechanical engineer who retired from the technical wing of the information and public relations department of Himachal Pradesh four years ago.

After 38 years, the bell atop Shimla’s landmark Christ Church on the Ridge will ring in Christmas.

The Christ Church on the Ridge in Shimla is a landmark monument and enduring legacy of the British Raj. Its bell and chimes, which had been awaiting repair due to lack of funds, have finally been restored and will ring in Christmas this time after 38 years. (Deepak Sansta/HT)

“We had been listening to the bell and the chimes since childhood but they stopped ringing 38 years ago. The church did not have adequate funds for repair,” says Victor Den, 62, a mechanical engineer who retired from the technical wing of the information and public relations department of Himachal Pradesh four years ago. So he took it upon himself to restore the bell and the chimes.

“Many original parts of the chimes were missing and the basic structure was in bad shape. I got some parts made locally and a few were brought from Chandigarh,” says Den. He took 15 days to get it repaired. A trial run was carried out on Saturday.

Victor Den, 62, an engineer and retired government employee, with the bell and chimes he helped restore, 38 years after they had fallen silent at Christ Church in Shimla on Monday.

With festivity in the air, priest Sohan Lal of the historic church expressed happiness that the chimes will ring in Christmas this time. “We lacked funds but are happy that now on the chimes will ring three times every Sunday too when the community gathers for service at 8am, 11am and 5pm,” he says.

The church management also plans to pool in funds and repair the three clocks atop the porch that have not been functioning for seven years.

Victor Den operating the bell by pulling ropes at the Christ Church at Ridge in Shimla.

The Shimla district administration had given ₹3 lakh for their repair but they stopped working soon after. Digital batteries were installed for all three clocks but now the management plans to give it another shot.

“As soon as we are able to gather adequate funds, we will get them repaired,” says Sohan Lal.