"Bells Across PA" public art installations to be placed throughout Philadelphia neighborhoods in 2026

As we approach the end of 2025 and the beginning of our 2026 celebrations, the city of Philadelphia announced the first of many featured 2026 initiatives.

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This past week, Bells Across PA provided a special preview of “Bells Across PA” neighborhood installations that will be displayed throughout Philadelphia, as part of a citywide initiative called “Ring It On! One Philly, A United Celebration,” organized by Mayor Parker in partnership with PHL250, a program of the Philadelphia Visitor Center. This initiative aims to celebrate the city’s neighborhoods in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary.

On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the first bell, “Freedom Rising,” was unveiled at Mother Bethel Church as part of the Bells Across PA project. The bell, sponsored by Stephen E. Bradley and his family, will be permanently displayed at the church.

Founded in 1794, Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in the nation. It is notable for being the oldest church property in the United States continuously owned by African Americans. It was designated as a national historic landmark in 1972.

Reverend Carolyn Cavaness, Pastor of Mother Bethel, highlighted the church’s historical significance: “Mother Bethel and the history of our founder, Richard Allen, are integral to every moment of our history. You cannot tell the story of America without including the story of Mother Bethel. This bell is a testament to the idea that freedom must ring, and we have a duty to carry the message of freedom wherever we go. So again, let freedom ring.”

The “Freedom Rising” bell was designed by Gail Gaines and generously donated to Mother Bethel Church by Steven Scott and Linda Bradley.

On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia250 (PHL250) hosted a special preview of the “Bells Across PA” neighborhood installations. This initiative, announced by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in September, aims to celebrate the histories, cultures, traditions, and heroes of the city’s diverse neighborhoods and corridors.