With a New Bell, Ortley Church Seeks Return to Normalcy After Hurricane Sandy

Devastated homes peak through the windows of St. Elizabeth's Worship Hall as George Skerletts walks before the congregation with an object covered in cloth. Some begin to wipe tears from their eyes as they catch a glimpse of what Skerletts is presenting to them.

“Well, we needed a new bell,” Skerletts says as he presents a golden hand bell in front of a Sunday service at St. Elizabeth's in Ortley Beach.

Members of the Chapel have been searching for the original bell given to St. Elizabeth's Chapel-by-the-sea in 1887 ever since Hurricane Sandy swept away the entire structure of their eighteen century Chapel.

“All of the religious artifacts were meaningful, but this was a symbol for us. George rang it every Sunday,” St. Elizabeth's Ward Dennis Bellars said.

People of Ortley Beach have returned items belonging to the church as they are found among the debris in the Toms River section ravaged by Sandy. But, no sign of the bell so far.

“That is the one thing most people would like to find,” Bellars said.

St. Elizabeths Chapel held special meaning to people in the community because up until the storm, it was one of the oldest standing buildings in Ortley Beach.

“Some people said after they checked their own houses they came to the chapel to see if it was alright,” Bellars said.

Bellars said offers of condolence and concern about how the chapel is going to rebuild have been the most meaningful acts of kindness the chapel has received from the community since the storm.

Now that St. Elizabeth's Chapel has their worship hall up and running, they want to return that kindness back to the people of Ortley.

“Our motto has always been, we are a beacon of light in the community. I want us to be a beacon of hope,” Bellars said.

Bellars said the church plans to dispense welcome home baskets to residents as they move back into the community some time in the near future.

“When somebody goes into their home, they can come here to the chapel and get a basket,” Bellars said.

The baskets will be filled with practical household items ranging from kitchen utensils to birthday candles.

“Things they probably forgot to buy. Things that just sit in your drawer that you think you'll never need,” Bellars said.

The church is taking another step toward normalcy in Ortley Beach—though it didn't look like St. Elizabeth's annual bible school would be an option this year because of the destruction still surrounding the worship hall, the program will continue. Trustees of the chapel have decided it will be good for the community to see St. Elizabeth's getting back to into their normal routine.

"We want people to look at St. Elizabeth's and say, they can do it so can we," Bellars said.