Silent Bells

When I was a child these bells called the faithful for miles around to come and worship in the comfort and fellowship of friends and neighbors. They pealed in joy at the end of each marriage ceremony and moaned in morning at the end of each life. They welcomed every morning and sang an evening lullaby every night.
Now, silently, they stand watch over the sidewalk beside the church. Birds have discovered the inside as a great place to build a nest; quiet and well protected.
They were removed from the bell tower after it was determined that the wooden beams up there would no longer support their weight. Now loudspeakers play recorded bells from that lofty perch.

But it's not the same.