The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania said that eleven bells , like the State House bell and the bells from Philadelphia 's Christ Church and St. Peter 's Church , should be taken down and taken away from the city to stop the British , who would melt the bells down to and make into cannons , from taking the bells . The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ordered that eleven bells , including the State House bell and the bells from Philadelphia 's Christ Church and St. Peter 's Church , be taken down and removed from the city to prevent the British , who would melt the bells down to cast into cannons , from taking possession of them .