Standing some 50 feet above Market Street, St. Andrews–Covenant is very fortunate to have the only set of tower bells in the Wilmington area and one of only 30 ever installed in the state of North Carolina.  Bells have traditionally been used to announce significant events in the life of a community.  The St. Andrews–Covenant bells call us into the sanctuary to worship and send us into the world to proclaim God’s message to all.

What are tower bells?

Tower bells are either tubular or cup shaped bells located high in a tower to project their sound throughout a community.  Tower bells are much larger than handbells or organ chimes to facilitate sound projection.  St. Andrews–Covenant’s bells cannot be considered a carillon as technically a carillon must contain at least 23 bells.  Ours are classified as “a chime” of bells as it contains between 8 and 22 bells.

Where are the chimes located?

The chimes are located in the sanctuary tower on Market Street behind the eight louvers, two facing each direction, near the tower’s top.

Trivia Fact:  The church’s tower did not originally include the louvers.  This left the chimes exposed to the elements (and wildlife!) and made the organ the recipient of frequent water leaks.

How many chimes are located at St. Andrews–Covenant?

There are 16 chimes arranged chromatically and pitched from E above middle C, spanning upwards an octave and a minor third.

Who made our chimes?

Our chimes were made by the J. C. Deagan Company in Chicago, which produced about 440 tower chimes from the 1020′s to the 1950′s.  Fifteen of these instruments were installed in North Carolina ranging in size from 10 to 20 bells.  Only 13 of these instruments still exist and only four of the 13 are operable.   Our bells were a gift to the church by the Sprunt family and were installed in January 1924.

What do the chimes look like?

The St. Andrews-Covenant bells are tubular shaped and made from an alloy of bronze similar to cup shaped bells.  Tubular bells are not prone to crack (as happened with the Liberty Bell) and and produce a more pure sound with fewer harmonics than that made by cup shaped bells.  Our largest bell, known as “the bourdon”, is about 12 feet long, about 5 inches in diameter, and weighs about 1,000 pounds.  The smallest is about 4 feet long, about 4 inches in diameter, and weighs about 200 pounds.

The chimes in the tower are struck by an electrically operated hammer at the top of each bell.  Once struck, a bell rings until its sound dies away naturally.  While best heard along Market Street and from the church’s courtyard, sound can be projected into the sanctuary   by opening a hatch in the ceiling of the organ chamber closest to Market Street.  The action of the hammer is triggered from a small keyboard located in the choir loft at the rear of the sanctuary.

Are tower bells expensive?

Known as “the king’s instrument”, an instrument includes bells, a performance console, and can also include an automated device to sound the instrument at such times as striking the hour, calls to worship, tolling deaths, and performing wedding peals.  Costs vary according to the number and type of bells as well as features chosen, so that each instrument is unique.  A considerable initial investment is required, and as with any fine musical instrument proper maintenance as well as occasional repair is necessary.  Because   of its high  unreliability, St. Andrews–Covenant’s automated player has been removed and the instrument is now only playable from its performance console.  Our dream would be to one day replace the automated player and integrate this device back into the instrument.  St. Andrews-Covenant possesses a unique and historically significant treasure with our 16 bell Deagan tower chime instrument.

Who plays our tower chimes?

Our tower chimes are played by a team of ringers called to serve our congregation and community through this ministry.  The ringers includes: Robyn Baird, Robbie Benson, Lisa Bohbrink, Caroline Daily, Beth Davis, Mary Farmer, MaryJo Harris, Bernt Lysne, Dennis Smith, and Norma Wood.  If you are interested in joining this ministry, contact Sharon Miller at the church.

Trivia Fact:  The legendary patriot Paul Revere was one of the bell ringers at Boston’s Old North Church.  His knowledge of and access to that church’s bell tower changed history!

When are our chimes played?

The tower chimes are played five times per week, before and after Sunday’s 8:30 and 11:00 worship services and from 5:25 to 5:35 on Wednesday evening prior to POPS dinners.