Let Freedom Ring! Houses of Worship Across the Country Will Ring Their Bells for Freedom on April 18th

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Contact: Arn Pearson, Executive Director, arn@prwatch.org, 207-805-8095

On April 18, congregations across the country will come together in a powerful, symbolic act: ringing bells for democracy. Inspired by the events of 250 years ago — when Boston’s Old North Church signaled the start of Paul Revere’s ride — and churches throughout the area rang their bells in warning.

To commemorate this historic event, the Old North Church will ring its historic bells — the oldest in America — on April 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to honor the day the American people began their fight for freedom, liberty, and justice for all that continues today. Heather Cox Richardson, a renowned historian and author, will deliver an inspired talk for its Lantern Service which will be live-streamed.

Houses of Worship across the country — and anyone else with a bell — will ring their bells at the start of services that day in solidarity with the Old North Church and to honor America’s historic struggle against tyranny.

Bells will ring from sea to sea tomorrow — from a lighthouse in Maine to historic churches like Boston’s Old North Church, New York City’s Riverside Church, St. Luke’s in Atlanta, the beautiful St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Los Angeles and scores more in between. Some, like the First Parish Church in Gorham, Maine, have actual Revere bells. For a partial list of houses of worship known to be participating, see https://www.letfreedomring.live/partners.

The powerful symbolic event provides an excellent opportunity for broadcast media to capture video and the sound of bells ringing out for freedom.

Let Freedom Ring! is cosponsored by the Center for Media and Democracy, The Old North Church, National Council of Churches, Maine Council of Churches, North Carolina Council of Churches, New York Council of Churches, and Repairers of the Breach.

The groups have a website, https://www.letfreedomring.live/, with more information, web videos, and resources for houses of worship and people who want to join the moment, and are urging all Americans to take part by asking their houses of worship to ring their bells, or joining with fellow congregants and friends to ring bells on place of worship steps, parks,street corners, or online.