Church bells across America rang on Friday April 18 to mark the 250th anniversary of a major moment in the opening months of the American Revolutionary War, and to continue the fight for democracy in the present day.

On the night of April 18 1775, Paul Revere undertook a midnight ride from Boston to warn revolutionary forces of the approach of the British Army. The ride began after a lantern signal was raised on the tower of Boston’s Old North Church. The church’s bells – the oldest in the United States – were rung before the start of services remembering the ride, joined by places of worship across the country.

According to Presbyterian News Service reports, at the service the Rev Dr Matthew Cadwell, vicar of Old North Church, said: “This 250th anniversary could not come at a more critical time. It’s a reminder that the America we love and want, the world we love and want, need to be fought for and voted for and written about and talked about, every day and in every way, by individuals as varied as each of us here tonight, Republicans and Democrats alike, people of every background and orientation and gender identity.”

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