How did a Russian bell end up in… British captivity? (PICS)

In 1854–1855, British ships regularly cruised the White Sea. From time to time, they raided local settlements and plundered passing vessels. The monastery was a lucrative opportunity for the British: the Solovetsky Islands, on which it’s located, served as a natural border with Onega Bay and were on the route to Kem, Sumsky Posad and Onega settlements.

For a long time, the Solovetsky Fortress was one of the most powerful in Russia. In the 17th century, Patriarch Nikon called it "the sovereign's great fortress". But, by the mid-19th century, its defenses had weakened. In 1854, only two of the 20 cannons remained operational, reinforced by eight guns brought from Arkhangelsk. Nevertheless, the monks did everything possible to prepare for the enemy: volunteers trained in marksmanship and bayonet fighting, the monastery fortifications were restored to proper condition and the abbot invited individual prisoners from the Solovetsky prison to participate in the defense.

Monks Resist Surrender

In July, the ‘Brisk’ and ‘Miranda’ frigates approached the Solovetsky Monastery and sent envoys. Erasmus Ommanny, commander of the British squadron, demanded the fortress immediately capitulate and lay down its arms.

When this was refused, his ships began shelling the monastery. The defenders returned fire, damaging the ‘Miranda’. The British were forced to break off their attack, but resumed it the following day. The powerful naval guns were countered only by two coastal artillery cannons and eight guns on the fortress wall. For nine hours, a "rain" of shells rained down on the Solovetsky Monastery. But, as if protected by heavenly powers, they caused no significant damage to the monastery walls.

The British had no choice but to retreat.

A "talking" trophy

But, before leaving, the British ravaged the village of Lyamitskaya, burned the customs house on Kiy Island and plundered the Monastery of the Exaltation of the Cross. They also landed on Bolshoy Zayachy Island and plundered the hermitage of St. Andrew the First-Called (Andrey Pervozvanny), founded by Peter the Great. The two hermits living there were unable to offer any resistance. As a trophy of the ‘Solovki Campaign’, the British took a bell from the bell tower of a church  – the "prisoner of war" was placed in Portsmouth’s Naval Cathedral.

In memory of these events, Emperor Alexander II presented the monastery with a new bell, the ‘Blagovestnik’, in 1860, decorated with images of the Mother of God, saints and Solovetsky miracle workers.

Return of the Bell

The story of the "prisoner of war", however, continued. In 1908, Edward Kellarth, a representative of the London Chamber of Commerce, visited Solovki, where the monks told him the story of the battle. He was surprised to learn that England had a Russian bell “captive”. Four years later, the abbot of the Solovetsky Monastery received a letter from the prosecutor of the Synodal Chancery: the British government was returning the bell. It was ordered to be met and returned to its original location.

Finally, on July 30, 1912, it was delivered by ship to Arkhangelsk and, from there, it arrived at the monastery by steamship. The bell was reconsecrated and installed in the tsar's Bell Tower next to the ‘Blagovestnik’.