The voice of the bell...

 The bells they sound on Bredon

And still the steeples hum -

'Come all to Church, good people',

Oh, noisy bells, be dumb;

I hear you, I will come. -  A.E. Housman

"Ringing the bells also gave notice to those unable

to attend the Mass (the sick, slaves, outside guards, etc)

that something divine and miraculous

was taking place inside of the church building.

The voice of the bell would allow people

to stop what they were doing

to offer an act of adoration to God. 

Additionally, the bells provided the ancillary benefit

of focusing (or re-focusing) the attention of the faithful

inside the church to the miracle

that was taking place atop the altar of sacrifice."

Excerpt from Sanctus Bells by Matthew D Herrera

The Last Mass of St Benedict, Fray Juan Rizi (Spain, 17th c)

"For bells are the voice of the church;

They have tones that touch and search

The heart of young and old."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow