The Belfry

Ascend to new heights with the iconic belfry of St. Peter's Church, a symbol of community, tradition, and faith.

The lower part of the bell tower or belfry is likely built around the same time as the church itself. It is believed that the lower part of the bell tower made of stone served as a gateway to the cemetery before the 1480s.

However, the upper part of the bell tower is much younger. After the Great Northern War, the entire bell tower had to be rebuilt. The upper part of the bell tower was painted in red, and the roof was made of shingles. The upper part of the bell tower was modified during the repairs in 1823 and 1891. The bell tower underwent substantial reconstruction in 1904, receiving a metal roof, panel walls, and a weather vane.

There are two bells in the bell tower, one from 1726 and the other from 1728. In the past, the bell ringer rang the bells by pulling ropes attached to the clapper inside the bell. Later, the term "bell ringer" also began to refer to the organist. Nowadays, the bells are rung by an automated machinery controlled from the church sacristy.

During the Great Northern War, the church bells were stolen.

Each church bell has its own sound and message. The bells of Siuntio say: "Mullen dammar, döden kommer" (The mill pond is calm, death is coming) when the bells were rung manually. Now, the bells are electrified, so the sound is no longer the same.

Reasons for bells to ring

The bells used to ring:

• To call the people to the church (before services, weddings, funerals).
• To announce the arrival of the weekend (every Saturday at 18:00, marking the beginning of the weekend – the day of rest, Sunday).
• To express joy (after funerals when the departed soul has been blessed and begun its journey to God in heaven), after weddings, and on Easter Sunday (celebrating Jesus' resurrection from the dead).
• To warn of danger (when war breaks out).
• To notify about a death (called "själaringning," the day after a resident of Siuntio has passed away, after the bell ringer has been informed of the death).

The Larger Bell

The inscriptions on the large bell are as follows:

Top:

"The Lord keep your entrance and exit now and forever."

Bottom:

"Guard your steps when you go to God's house and come to hear, for it is better than the offerings of fools. Ecclesiastes IV VERSE XVII"

On the side:

"PROSOPOPOEIA CAMPANA FULMINEO PERII TACTA ANNOS ANTE DUCENTOS IGNI: ME RAPUIT RUSSICUS INDE FUROR SUMTIBUS ALT HODIE SIUNDIENSIBU REFUNDOR

LAETA SUB IMPERIO REX FRIEDERICE TUO A:O:R:M:DCC:XXVI. GABRIEL THEUDSCHOVIUS P:LOCI

THIS SIUNDO BELL WAS CAST BY THE KING'S FOUNDER GERHART MEYER IN THE YEAR 1726.

On the other side's medallion:

"TURNED MISERABLE BY A HEAVENLY FIRE DESTROYED FOR TWO HUNDRED YEARS ABDUCTED BY THE RUSSIANS WAS IN KING FREDRIC'S TIME FOR THE SAME CONTRIBUTION REDEEMED BY THE SIUNDO LORDSHIP AND BY THE PARISHIONERS C: THEUDSCHOVIUS P: REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHURCH AND WARDENS SACELL MAGISTRATE ERIK ADLERCREUTZ IAC.

Hans Hindersson in Myran, Hindrics Västerberg in Wästerby, Abraham Hindersson in Storby, Mårten Grönberg in Grönskog, Hans Hindersson in Krevola in Bläsaby. Copper, Weight 5 skeppund, 4 lispund, 7 skålpund."

The Smaller Bell

The inscriptions on the smaller bell are as follows:

Around the bell:

"PEACE NOURISHES, WAR CONSUMES. MAKE AMENDS, SIUNDO, SOON THAT IT MAY NOT GO AS THEN

AS IT HAPPENED IN THE YEAR WHEN CRUEL RUSSIAN MEN

DRAGGED ME, UNHAPPY, AWAY MY SOUND MUST SILENCE

BY OATH COMPELLED I NOW STAND ON MY POST

AND CAST IN STOCKHOLM IN THE YEAR 1729, WHICH WAS THE 10TH YEAR OF KING FREDRICHS REGIMENT, BY GERHARD MEYER

O WORTHY MEN OF SIUNDO, GREAT PRAISE TO YOU IS GIVEN

BY NEIGHBORS AROUND, YOUR VIRTUE IS NAMED

FOR IN A DEAR TIME, IT HAS SEIZED YOU SO THAT WE WITH COLLECTED HAND BOUGHT BOTH

TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WITH SOUND NOW CALL IN

TO PRAISE THE GOD OF ZION WITH HEART AND MIND."