Our Carillon
The tower of First Presbyterian Church in Belmont, designed with a carillon in mind, was built in 1966. In 1984 that dream was realized with the installation of the William James Pharr Carillon. The Eijsbouts bell foundry of the Netherlands built the 48 cast-bronze bell carillon as well as a keyboard for playing and one for practicing. The principal bell weighs 4850 pounds and has a diameter of just over four feet. The smallest bell weighs 31 pounds. The total weight of the bells is over 14 tons. The bells are decorated with friezes and inscriptions. The friezes depict the horsemen of the apocalypse, taken from Revelations. Bible verses from the Psalms and the New Testament adorn the 36 largest bells. Dedications are inscribed around the waist of the first 21 bells. The largest bell carries the dedication, “Dedicated to the Glory of God; and to all people within the sound of these bells, to benefit this church, and to minister grace and joy for all mankind, by Mrs. William James Pharr.” The inaugural recital was played on Pentecost Sunday, June 10, 1984 by Frank Della Penna, who is a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, a composer, representative for Eijsbouts and a gifted performer. The bell tower was screened in 2005 to protect the bells from roosting birds. There is an endowment fund for maintenance, the purchase of music and concerts.
