NORWICH – Before the United States was established, before the American people sought their freedom and well before the Civil War took place on American soil, a man by the name of William Brend of England cast a bell that now, 394 years later, will ring officially for the first time here in America – in Norwich.

The bell, originally made in 1613, has been placed in the tower of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church and, in celebration of the church’s 175th anniversary, will open Sunday’s service.