We are attempting to make a free standing bell tower for our little rural church of 20 parishioners . An old timer came up with the idea to cast a base a about 5 feet square x 10 inches thick- use a single galvanized pipe in the center [ instead of rebar] of a 20 foot round column whose mold is a 8 inch PVC diameter pipe, 7 feet long. The intention is cast the concrete in the PVC pipe then slip it up 3 more times over a number of days to achieve the 20 foot height. At the top , the old bell- cast in 1835 and weighing 150 pounds- will be perched between 2 short concrete columns 2 feet high.

Over the last 40 years the wooden bell tower had to be changed twice because of termites and general rotting. Hopefully putting same in concrete will outlast the ” ole 6 “as we call ourselves in the church. There is no shortage of ideas or hands to do “Self Help” but we need some technical “know How.” The average weight of the 8 inch column and bell is 1800 pounds and the base 3150 pounds. Is the base an overkill and if so what dimensions do you recommend ? The soil is somewhat clay. Thanks for any advice.