After a century of divine service, the bell tower at Plainfield United Methodist Church was beginning to show its age.
The 10 bells had rung out from the tower since 1907 as part of an instrument known as a “chime,” where 10 levers on a keyboard-like console allow the differently tuned bells to be played like an instrument.
But since 2007, as the stately church in downtown Plainfield underwent a variety of renovations, the church community decided to increase the number of bells.
The final of 13 new bells were installed just before Easter. This new assortment of 23 bells of various tones, ages and sizes now hanging in the bell tower comprise a “carillon,” a rare array that can also be played like an instrument.
With its carillon in place, the church can now count itself among the fewer than 200 churches with such a setup in North America, according to the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, a group comprised of those who are able to play this unique instrument.
“It’s really a thrill to have one of these rare instruments in a church the size of Plainfield Methodist,” said Larry Stephens, a church member and one of the guiding forces behind the bell tower’s transformation into a carillon.
The carillon at the church is decidedly high-tech. It features levers arrayed like a piano keyboard that can be played manually, but this incarnation also features an automated system.
This automated system plays two hymns automatically at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and picks hymns that reflect the day’s place on the Christian calendar, according to Assistant Pastor Chris Walters.
Hymns ring out from the bell tower before and after services on Sunday.
“It promotes the connection between churches as the center of town, and bells to proclaim worship in the community,” Walters said. “It’s a proud thing for the congregation.”
A pneumatic air system, a bevy of wires and a gaggle of other examples of engineering precision mean that when each lever is pushed, they hit the bells of varying sizes with the same amount of force, ensuring that notes ring out evenly, Stephens said.
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The bells vary in size, from 1,800 pounds to just 25 pounds, Stephens said.
The 13 new bells were all custom-made in The Netherlands to ensure they would be in harmony with the 10 bells from 1907, which Stephens said were bought “off the shelf.”
Back in the olden days, chime players at the church would have to depress levers so oversized that they were nicknamed “plow handles,” Stephens said.
The church raised about $200,000 to revamp the bell tower, Stephens said.
Plainfield’s carillon has been recognized by official carillon groups and those who play the instrument, he said.
“When you get to the carillon status, you’re kind of on the map,” Stephens said. “It becomes a destination for those folks.”
The church will host two free carillon concerts this summer at 7 p.m.
A Canadian carillonneur will tickle the levers on June 25, and Tim Sleep, Naperville’s city carillonneur, will play on July 24.
Stephens noted that while some bolts in the bell frames had to be replaced in the recent years’ renovations, structural engineers praised the humble tower’s stout steadfastness throughout the past century.
“It’s been a really exciting thing for me personally,” he said. “It’s a dream come true to see this completed, after 107 years. Obviously I wasn’t here for the first 100 of that, but it’s exciting.”
Twitter: @JournoGeoffZ