Sentinel : sentire :: <span> sensuous : sonare.</span>
Hammer and tongs were the tools of the blacksmiths, which had to be very strong and energetic in their work.
Becasue of this "tongs and hammer" evoke the imagery of strengh and vehemence. So this means that the parish priest was very loud and vehement about the prayers.
A clue to cause and effect would be the word "since" as it starts a cause for something,a reason for something to happen
