The Tower Bells at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham, Alabama About the Bells

The bells of the Cathedral of St. Paul were cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in early 2006. They set sail for the United States on April 3, 2006. The bells arrived in Birmingham on the morning of April 28. Neil Thomas of Whitechapel travelled to Alabama and installed the bells, which first rang out on May 17.

During the next several months, almost every weekend was devoted to intensinve training of the new ringers at St. Paul. The bells were dedicated on Sunday, October 22, 2006. The details of each bell can be found below.

Here is a video clip (2.6 MB) of the bells ringing out.

Richard Elwood Donohoe (treble)
Details have not yet been supplied.

Katherine Olivia Kidd (2nd)
Attended Jasper, Tuscaloosa schools, Sacred Heart in Cullman, and graduated from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Business. Four Children. Twenty eight years as Church Administrator of Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham. Fellow Church Business Administrators. Member of Equestrians and Guild of Change Ringers.

George William Kidd (3rd)
Attended St. Paul's Grammar School, where he was an Altar Boy, Graduated St. Bernard High School and Auburn University, Architecture. Three Children. A Captain of Engineers in the Korean War and a career construction estimator and manager. Member SAR, Equestrians, Stained Glass Association, and Guild of Change Ringers.

Alice Rowena Kidd Talbot (4th)
Attended St. Paul's Grammar School, Phillips High and Graduated from Auburn University with two majors. Six years Delta flight attendant. Lived in Italy several years, son Paul born in Brussels, Belgium. Twenty eight years with the Treasury Department, Washington D.C. Member DAR and Equestrians.

Della McLaughlin Kidd (5th)
Born 1891 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Died 1975 in Birmingham, Alabama. She was a graduate of Penn State College (now Penn State University) and was a school teacher in Aspenwall, Pennsylvania. Married William Kidd in Aspenwall, Pennsylvaniaa in 1921, and came to Birmingham and joined St. Paul's Catholic Church at that time. Three Children. Was active in many church guilds and sodalities, and DAR. Buried from St. Paul's Cathedral.

William George Kidd (6th)
Born 1890 in Leechburg, Pennsylvania. Died 1974 in Birmingham, Alabama. A veteran of World War I and founding member of American Legion Gorgas Post I. A member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in 1920 when he came to Birmingham as an offline agent of the Wabash Railroad. Retired after 42 years of service. He was 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Knight of Saint Gregory, Honorary Doctor of Humanities and founder of the Retreat Movement, Saint Bernard College. Also member of the board St Thomas Home. Buried from St Paul's Cathedral.

Anna Catharine Grace (7th)
Graduate of St. Paul's High School and Birmingham Southern College with Honors. Married Mike Grace in 1946, four children. Member DAR and Equestrians.

Michael Francis Grace (tenor)
Born in 1921 in Huntsville, Alabama. Died 1983 and is buried in Huntsville. Auburn University graduate in Engineering. Army Captain, Engineers, and veteran of World War II and Korean War. Survived five amphibious landings including Normandy. Founder and CEO of APCOM, a heating controls manufacturer in Franklin, Tennessee.