In August, 2021, the bell tower was cleaned and a digital carillon was added.
The carillon is all new, pre-programmed with about 200 hymn tunes plus different sounds, including bells, chimes and bagpipes. The carillon can be custom programmed and timed remotely from a tablet and played wirelessly in real time from the organ console. In the photo, you can see one speaker up in the bell tower, pointing out to the street.
The sound is digital from a device, not physical bells. There is one large physical bell from the 19th century in the belfry, rung by a hand rope. That still works! We had another electronic carillon years ago, but it was analog, magnetic tape-recordings played through an amplifier to tower speaker. That analog carillon ceased to function many years ago and eventually was trashed.
The new carillon is dedicated to the glory of God and to the loving memory of Patricia Andrews Richmond. All the costs were covered by generous donations by her husband, son, and daughter.
PHOTO: DEDICATION PLAQUE
Patricia A. Richmond Memorial Carillon