Belfry

The first stop up from the tower is the belfry, the structure that holds the church bells. Many belfries were built with openings on all four sides to allow for unimpeded transmission of sound, but in rough climates like New England, louvered windows were added to protect the bell and underlying structure from the elements. The belfry often sports classical decorations like pediments, pilasters, balustrades, urns and crowns atop the arches. Perhaps surprisingly, the word “belfry” has nothing to do with bells; it’s derived from an Old French word for watchtower.