Sunday, April 5, 2026

Will the Bells Toll in Rankin County?

 A Rankin County couple asked a Chancellor to shut down a church's ringing of its bells after declaring it a nuisance. 


Jeff Maynard and Sylvia Knight petitioned the Rankin County Chancery Court to issue an injunction against County Line Baptist Church of Rankin County on December 23, 2025.  

The plaintiffs and the church reside on County Line Road. Knight and Maynard charge the church rings the bells too often and too loudly.  The complaint claims: 

10. The acts subject to this Complaint, hereinafter referred to as the "interfering acts," involve the Defendants' usage of the property known as County Line Road Baptist Church located at or near 1132 County Line Road, Mendenhall, MS 39114, described as follows:

a. Using electronic speakers and sound systems to play electronic bell sounds every hour from 8:00am to 8:00pm seven days a week.

b. Using electronic speakers and sound systems to play music at 12:00pm seven days a week and during meetings of the congregation.

11. These interfering acts disturb the Plaintiffs' enjoyment of the property at 1159 County Line Road, Mendenhall, Mississippi 39114.

The complaint alleges the volume of the bells are 16 to 32 times the normal background sound outdoors and 4 to 8 times the background sound indoors.  The ringing is "continuous" and "ongoing" since September 2024 despite the plaintiffs' objections.  

The noise allegedly prevents Maynard and Knight from enjoying their property while causing them irreparable harm. The couple asked for an injunction and damages against the church. 

Rankin County Chancellor John McLaurin will hold a hearing on August 24 at 9.  Attorney Matt Balderidge represents the plaintiffs while Mark Baker, Esq. represents the defendants.  

Posted below are the petition and answer. 



Could not resist.

 

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good. I hope they win.

I am all for tradition and church bells, but this goes above and beyond of being reasonable.

This church is coming off as a bunch of douchebags.

Anonymous said...

I support the plaintiffs

Anonymous said...

I support the plaintiffs. Excessive church bell ringing isn't virtuous, and it isn't going to send the congregation to heaven. It's akin to narcissism. Listen to me, listen to me, listen to me.

Anonymous said...

Getting in people's faces with your religion isn't going to convert anyone.

Anonymous said...

Church bells are the Christian version of a “call to prayer”

Of course evil and demonic non-Christians hate them.

Anonymous said...

The only issue is the volume. If the volume is acceptable there is no issue.

Anonymous said...

1:28- Put them in the backyard behind your trailer and see how much you appreciate them.

Anonymous said...

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands

Pslams 100 KJV

Anonymous said...

Since when is mendenhall in rankin county?

Anonymous said...

I’d have a slight bit of empathy for them if the lawsuit wasn’t filled with hyperbole. A normal conversation is 60 - 70 dB. You mean to tell me those bells are toiling inside a building at 240 - 560 dB?

These two upstanding, cohabitating citizens don’t want a church across the street. The church has been rebuilt, the plaintiffs didn’t pay attention to the rebuilding process, and now want government to fix their lack of earlier action because the bells are twice the sound of a jet engine.

Sure.

Anonymous said...

I love to hear church bells. But the ones I hear are at a volume that you have to be quiet to hear the sound. I drive by a church in the early morning that does bells and I roll down the windows and drive slow so I can hear them. Just beautiful.

I understand playing music at the service times, but why are you hearing it so loudly outside of the church? Thats odd to me.

Anonymous said...

Postal addresses don't follow county, city or even state lines. My postal zip code covers four counties (very rural).

Anonymous said...

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands
Pslams 100 KJV"
April 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM

Yeah ... but this ain't a joyful noise 3:03.

Anonymous said...

This isn’t rocket science. A mailing address doesn’t tell you the physical location of a property. Their mail comes from the Mendenhall post office.

Why is Lake Caroline served by the Madison post office, and the area just north of Madison the city served by Canton? Use a map and you might learn something.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy hearing the church bells and music. Some people aren't happy unless they are unhappy.

Anonymous said...

https://www.mississippimap.com/

Now see if you can find the county line on the map. That concludes today’s lesson.

Anonymous said...

This church is in Rankin County, but has a Mendenhall (Simpson County) address.

Anonymous said...

I bet that fellow servant defense saves the day. Jeepers.

Lazy defense lawyers pleading literally every defense in the book (the Ms rule book) demonstrates both lack of thought and lack of integrity.

Anonymous said...

I'd ask 1125 county line rd if bells bother them since they're closer than plaintiff. The church should invite all neighbors over for dinner on the ground one Sunday....

Anonymous said...

It's all in the ear of the beholder!

Anonymous said...

I guess my questions would be
1) does Rankin County have a noise ordinance?
2) who measured the sound level of the bells and the music?
3) how come the street didn't sign onto the lawsuit, the sounds are just bothering 1 household?

Anonymous said...

Did I miss where law enforcement have been called for this problem, or is the information below untrue?

Yes, Rankin County, Mississippi, has noise regulations prohibiting excessive noise from activities that disturb the peace, which may result in reports to law enforcement
. While specific county-wide decibel limits are less common, state statutes apply, prohibiting loud or unusual noises that disturb the peace of any person or family.

Anonymous said...

Well, it’s just plain fake and weird to play an electronic bell sound. How hard is it get a real bell tower put up. Would make you real uncomfortable to hear bell sounds over a JBL speaker at all hours of the day in the countryside. This is a very good example of what’s going on in this country, everything is fake and cheap now. Cheapest and easiest way to do things as possible.

Anonymous said...

dB is a logarithmic scale. Therefore 10 times louder than 70dB would be 80dB.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this brief explainer for the numerically illiterates.

Anonymous said...

The church could move to Madison is they are willing to cover it in red brick.

Anonymous said...

I would have been more sympathetic to the plaintiffs if law enforcement had investigated a complaint.

Anonymous said...

This is such a stupid and tired trope. Hardly any of the buildings in Madison look the same. You just are a sub 70 IQ peabrain 3rd worlder that wants to comment on something you know nothing about.

Anonymous said...

@6:38 are you kidding?

Church bells weight several tons. You can’t a proper bell tower to support the weight of one or more bells if your church made of chipboard and stucco!

Anonymous said...

Where is the HOA when you need them?

Anonymous said...

People will sue for anything. At least a certain type will. Seems like the plaintiffs have found their way to the JJ comments.

Anonymous said...

1:28 wrote: "Church bells are the Christian version of a “call to prayer”"

And here's what the Bible says about that:

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."

Matthew 6:5-6

What's It All About, Alfie? said...

The church would welcome this couple should they decide to depart from their evil ways and perform nuptial rights.

On the other hand, how many Christians would welcome amplified chants coming from a mosque's loud speakers on a constant basis?

On a related note: During a Muslim parade, does a fictitious character throw candy from atop a fire truck?

Anonymous said...

That might be 'the issue' for you, but, not for others, nor the plaintiffs. The complaint clearly includes regularity and repetition in addition to volume.

Anonymous said...

To answer several concerns expressed above:

1) It matters not how many others, if any at all, are offended, inconvenienced or harmed.

2) It makes no difference whether or not law enforcement has received a complaint.

3) It matters not why others didn't also complain.

4) Whether Rankin has a noise level statute is irrelevant and it makes no difference how much a damned bell weighs.

5) Who measured the sound and who else might enjoy the sound of bells is irrelevant to the complaint or the law.

6) The only relationship to IQ is to the numbskull who always posts about stucco.

Anonymous said...

Context matters, and this verse really doesn't fit here just fyi. Do some a little studying and you will see. That said I don't have a dog in the bell fight, but to say your context here is more than a small stretch.


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