Inspired by events 250 years ago, when Boston’s Old North Church signaled the start of Paul Revere’s ride, churches bells across the nation were rung in support of democracy on Friday, Oct. 18.
The bells of several Presbyterian churches and those of other denominations across North Carolina were rung as part of an event called Let Freedom Ring.
Let Freedom Ring was cosponsored by the Center for Media and Democracy, the Old North Church, the National Council of Churches, the Maine Council of Churches, the North Carolina Council of Churches, the New York State Council of Churches and Repairers of the Breach.
The Old North Church’s historic bells, the oldest in the United States, were rung at 6 p.m. Friday to honor the day the American people began a fight for freedom, liberty and justice for all that continues today.
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, professor of history at Boston College and author, delivered a talk for the Old North Church’s Lantern Service. Richardson has frequently commented on the recent erosion of democracy in the United States in weekly columns.
Richardson said on Friday that Paul Revere, Robert Newman, John Pulling, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott and all the other riders who set out for Lexington after they saw the signal lanterns in the steeple of Old North Church, were men from all walks of life who had families to support, businesses to manage.
