Nagasaki Cathedral bombed in WWII to finally replace bell

The bell was donated by the son of a man who participated in the Manhatten Project, which designed the bomb, and funded by US Catholics.

On the 80th anniversary of the WWII bombing of Nagasaki, Urakami Cathedral’s bells will ring together for the first time in nearly a century. The final restoration of Nagasaki’s storied cathedral will come in large part thanks to US Catholics and the grandson of a man who was on the team that designed the atomic bomb as part of the Manhattan Project.

The Cathedral was mostly destroyed when the atomic bomb was dropped, with just the walls remaining after the blast. According to Japan News, the south tower’s bell was found in the rubble, damaged but repairable, while the bell from the north tower was completely destroyed. This piece of Japanese history remains on display near the Cathedral, but the bell of the south tower has rung three times a day ever since it was restored. (It’s tradition for church bells to ring three times a day to call the faithful to pray the Angelus.)

Now, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki is preparing to hang a new bell in the restored north tower that will finally bring the Cathedral back to its previous form. The new bell will be donated by James Nolan Jr., a professor of sociology at Williams College, who was supported in funding this endeavor by US Catholics.

Nolan’s Father, James Nolan Sr., participated in the development of the atomic bomb and his work placed him on the ground in Nagasaki in the months after the bombing. While he was in Nagasaki to investigate the effects of the bomb, the trip would leave him with many photographs of the damage to the city, including images of the ruined cathedral, which inspired Nolan Jr. to take part in the restoration.

In 2020, Nolan Jr. retraced his father’s footsteps through Nagasaki and wrote a book on the ethical and medical issues that doctors faced throughout the atomic bomb’s development. During his research, he became close with Japanese Catholics, who suggested that US Catholics might be interested in replacing their bell, which Nolan Jr. thought was a great idea.

Working with Archbishop Michiaki Nakamura, Nolan Jr. was able to commission a new bell that would fit the north tower of the cathedral. It measures 66cm (2.1ft) in height, with an 80cm (2.6ft) diameter, and will weigh about 340kg (750lbs). Archbishop Nakamura commented on the bell:

“The bells will ring out to convey the tragedy of war and to wish for peace.”

Learn more at Japan News.