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.

 

Posted by Kingfish at 12:30 PM

5 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.

April 5, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Anonymous said...

I support the plaintiffs

April 5, 2026 at 12:47 PM
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.

April 5, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Anonymous said...

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

April 5, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Anonymous said...

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

Of course evil and demonic non-Christians hate them.

April 5, 2026 at 1:28 PM

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