UGA’s chapel bell taking summer break

From the University of Georgia

The University of Georgia’s Chapel Bell will be temporarily unavailable this summer as part of a longer-term preservation effort to protect it and ensure the bell-ringing tradition can continue for years to come.

The bell will remain available for ringing through Sunday, May 10. It will be removed from the tower on Monday, May 11. Temporary barricades will be in place during removal and will be taken down once the bell has been lowered.

During this phase, the bell will be sent to an off-site partner for documentation and evaluation. Dating to 1835, it has become increasingly vulnerable to cracking due to age and frequent use. This multi-phase project aims to preserve the bell while reducing the risk of further damage.

The first phase of this project will take several weeks to complete. The bell is expected to be reinstalled before the start of the fall 2026 semester.