This Nearly 100-Year-Old Florida Church Has 49 Bells and Gorgeous Stained Glass

Tucked along Orange Avenue in Clearwater, a historic Episcopal church has been ringing out over the neighborhood for nearly a century. It is home to a carillon of 49 bells and windows that glow with color when the sun hits them just right. Visitors and members alike call the building beautiful, and the people inside even more welcoming.

Here are eight things that make this Clearwater landmark worth knowing.

1. A Carillon With 49 Bells

Forty-nine bells. That number alone makes this church stand apart from most houses of worship in Florida. A carillon is a musical instrument made of many bells played from a keyboard, so the tower can play real melodies instead of a single repeated clang.

When the bells ring over the Orange Avenue neighborhood, people nearby hear hymns drifting through the air. It gives the downtown area a soundtrack that feels old-fashioned in the best way. Even if you never step inside, the music can stop you on the sidewalk.

Bells like these take skill to play. The player uses fists and feet on a special set of wooden levers and pedals, almost like a giant piano made for the sky. Each bell is tuned to a specific note, so the whole set can cover a wide range of songs.

If you are curious about when the bells ring, call the church office at 727-447-3469. The staff can point you toward service times or special music days. Plan ahead, and you might catch the tower in full voice during your visit.

Fun fact: carillons are rare in the United States, so having one in a Clearwater neighborhood is a real treat for music lovers and history fans.

2. Stained Glass That Steals the Show

Step inside on a sunny morning and the walls seem to come alive. Colored light spills across the pews in patches of red, blue, and gold. The stained glass windows are a big reason reviewers keep using words like beautiful and absolute beauty.

Each window is built from many small pieces of glass held together by strips of metal. Artists once used these panels to tell Bible stories to people who could not read. Today they still work that way, turning a quiet room into a picture book made of light.

The best time to look is when the sun is lower in the sky. Morning and late afternoon light pushes the colors deeper and makes the glass glow. Bring your phone, but keep it quiet if a service is going on.

Take a slow walk along the sides of the sanctuary and look closely at the details. Tiny faces, flowers, and symbols hide in the corners. You may spot something new each time you come back, which is part of the fun of old windows.

3. Nearly a Century of History

Picture Clearwater in the 1920s, when the town was growing fast and orange groves still shaped daily life. That is the era when this congregation built its home. Nearly one hundred years later, the building still stands at 701 Orange Avenue and still draws people through its doors.

One reviewer called it a beautiful historic church with friendly people, and that sums up the feeling well. Old walls, careful craftsmanship, and well-kept grounds give the place a calm, lived-in charm. It feels like a building that has seen many weddings, baptisms, and Sunday mornings.

Florida does not always hold on to its older buildings, so a survivor like this is special. Hurricanes, heat, and humidity are hard on any structure. Keeping a church in good shape for generations takes steady work from the people who care about it.

When you visit, notice the architecture before you go in. Look at the rooflines, the entry, and the tower. Little details tell you this was built to last, and the proof is that it still does.

4. Music Beyond the Bells

Ask reviewers what they remember and music comes up again and again. Words like fantastic, wonderful, and perfect sound show up in their notes. The church has a music director, a choir, and a sanctuary that carries sound beautifully.

One visitor went to hear Mahler’s First Symphony and said the atmosphere and sound were perfect. That tells you the space is not just for Sunday hymns. High ceilings and warm acoustics make it a lovely spot for concerts too.

If you love music, check the church website at churchofascension.org for upcoming events. Special programs may be posted there, and some are open to guests. It is a good way to enjoy the building without attending a regular service.

Even a casual listener will notice how much care goes into the singing. Voices rise, the organ fills in the gaps, and the whole room hums. Sit near the middle of the sanctuary if you can, since that is often where the sound feels richest.

5. Services for Every Schedule

Busy weekend? No problem. One reviewer pointed out that there are several services to choose from, which makes it easier to fit worship into real life.

Sunday hours on the listing run from 8 AM to 6:30 PM, so there is room for early birds and evening folks alike.

The office keeps weekday hours too. From Monday through Thursday it is open 9 AM to 4 PM, and Friday runs 9 AM to noon. Saturday is closed, so plan around that if you want to stop by in person.

First-timers often wonder what to expect. Episcopal services follow a familiar pattern of readings, prayers, music, and communion. You do not need to know everything ahead of time, and people tend to help newcomers find their place in the book.

Before you go, call 727-447-3469 or check the website for the current schedule. Times can shift for holidays and special events. A quick check saves you a trip and gets you in the door with a smile.

6. A Welcome That Feels Real

Plenty of places say they are friendly. Reviewers here actually back it up. They describe a loving, kind congregation, genuine pastors, and people who make visitors feel at home.

One longtime member praised a class called Ascension 101, offered each year as an introduction to the church. It explains how the church is organized and why it believes what it does. It also gives newcomers a chance to meet the priests, the deacon, and the music director face to face.

The church has also said plainly that all are welcome and that its focus is on faith rather than politics. Not every visitor will agree with every choice, and one reviewer was unhappy about it. Still, most feedback paints a warm picture, and the average rating sits at 4.5 stars from 52 reviews.

If walking into a new place makes you nervous, try that class or arrive a few minutes early. Say hello to someone near the door. Chances are good they will return the favor.

7. A Day School and Preschool With Fans

Families rave about the school on this campus. Reviewers call the day school top notch, the preschool wonderful, and the staff caring. One grandparent said their granddaughter goes there and is treated kindly.

Another family shared that all of their kids attended the day school and are still involved in the church years later. That kind of loyalty does not happen by accident. It points to a program that makes children feel known and safe.

Having a school on church grounds also adds energy to the property. Weekdays bring the sound of kids, backpacks, and busy teachers. It gives the place a living, neighborhood feel instead of a quiet building that only wakes up on Sundays.

If you are shopping for a preschool in the Clearwater area, call the church office and ask about tours and openings. Ask about class sizes, daily routines, and how the school connects with church life. Seeing the rooms in person tells you more than any brochure could.

8. Planning Your Visit on Orange Avenue

Here is a handy tip: use the right address. The church sits at 701 Orange Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756. One past reviewer noted that a different map pin pointed to a parking lot instead of the real building, so double-check before you drive over.

The location is close to downtown Clearwater, which makes it easy to pair a visit with a walk or a bite nearby. Give yourself a few extra minutes to look around the grounds. The exterior and the tower deserve a slow look before you head inside.

Hours matter too. The office is open weekdays and on Sundays, with Saturday closed. If you want to see the sanctuary outside of a service, call 727-447-3469 first and ask what is possible.

Dress comfortably and respectfully, and bring a little curiosity. Whether you come for worship, music, history, or the glowing windows, you will likely leave with a good story. Reviewers keep returning, and after a visit, it is easy to see why.