"TO THE GLORY OF GOD THIS PEAL OF EIGHT BELLS

IS THE GIFT OF CATHERINE STUART MORRISON 1925"

(Inscribed on the largest of the eight bells cast by:

GILLETTE & JOHNSTON - CROYDON, ENGLAND 1926)

The St Johns Carillon (technically a CHIME because a carillon must have at least 23 bells, we have eight) was installed in 1926 after being donated to the church by CATHERINE STUART MORRISON in 1925.

The bells are played on a baton type "keyboard" located in the bell tower, just below the actual bells. The “broom handle” keys are played by fist or open hand to ring the inside clapper of each bell.  Each baton rings one of the corresponding bells in the tower through a series of wires and pulleys. We have eight bells, one octave - with no flats or sharps.

The people who “ring” our chimes are called Chimers. St. John’s has had a number of Chimers since 1926, but currently no "regulars".

If you are interested in becoming a chimer, you must be at least ten years old and have 'some' formal music instruction (school, private lessons, etc). If you want to see how it’s done, please come and meet us in the bell tower any Sunday after the 10:30am service, or, contact us through the feedback page.

We try to play the Bells every Sunday, usually at 10am and noon. Hopefully at some point we will schedule regular “practices” as well. By nature of the bells, these practices will be more like public performances.

Music for 8-Bells?

If you are a chimer, and through the wonder of the internet managed to land here, thanks for visiting! you wouldn't happen to have any music for 8-bells would you? email me at webmaster @ stjohnsnorway.org

Thanks for visiting.

Kevin Saloranta