President's Message - December 2025

As I've said often - what a busy little church we are! Lots of activity happening in the present - but we also have some historic revitalization going on. Have you heard the bells chiming out the ten o'clock hour on Sunday mornings? That's the "Tubular Bell Carillon" recently brought back online during the balcony music improvement project. Now the small keyboard under the western staircase can be played - and it is heard inside the sanctuary and outside in Wisner Park. I've copied information about it from our church publication Musical Treasures of The Park Church by Thomas Bohlert as published in 1995. Here's the history of this unusual instrument:

"The Tubular Bell Carillon located in the tower over the east door was given not merely to The Park Church but to the entire community, in memory of the founder of the Elmira Star and first president of the Elmira Star-Gazette, Isaac Seymour Copeland. Since Mr. Copeland was a devoted member of the church, a deacon, and a close friend of four of its ministers, the square tower facing Wisner Park was chosen as the location for this memorial from his wife and son, Dr. Woodford J. Copeland.

A brass plaque in the narthex reads: The chimes in the tower of this church were erected A.D. 1924 in memory of Isaac Seymour Copeland, 1849-1919." The existing tower was strengthened by T.H. Johnson Construction Co. of Elmira to carry the six-ton assembly before the set of eighteen chimes was installed by Roy Lofink of the J.C. Deagan Co. Chicago. The size of the chimes ranges from about five to twelve feet in length.

Chimes, by definition, are a set of tuned metal bars, struck by a hammer, whether manually or through a keyboard. "Tubular Bell Carillon" is a term coined by the Deagan Company. Founded in 1880, it was well-known for manutacturing xylophones, marimbas, orchestra bells and percussion devices for organs, but its tubular bell carillon is considered its biggest achievement. Between 1916 and 1957, over 500 were made. However, the carillon at Park is only one of about 100 that are in playing condition today.

The service of dedication was held on Sunday, November 24, 1924. Rev. Cornwell was ill, so Rev. W. Hamilton Benham of the First Presbyterian Church led the service in his place. "The church cannot reap all the benefits," said Rev. Benham, "The music from its chimes will not be sectarian. It will ring out as an inspiration to all souls."

Indeed, it was an event that the community had waited for. According to the account in the Elmira Star Gazette, the sanctuary was filled to capacity, and "automobiles and persons" filled the streets for two blocks around to hear the carillon's first sounding. Originally the chimes were played each weekday at noon and twice on Sundays by the organist who received an extra $350 per year for his efforts."

Originally the keyboard for the carillon was in the chancel alongside the organ, so after the Hurricane Agnes Flood of 1972, the chimes went silent while the new balcony location was prepared. Then when the new 2832 pipe Shantz organ was installed in 1974, the carillon keyboard was relocated there.

In recent years the chimes have been heard outside our building as played by Roberta Hoffman on November 11" at 11 AM to mark the Armistice. Bertie has also played the chimes to mark the anniversaries of September 11 and mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the Pulse Nightclub.

With our recent investment in the rewiring of the system, we can now hear them in the sanctuary as well as outside. Bill Knapp currently plays the Westminster Chime melody prior to striking 10 bells to begin each of our Sunday worship services. He's wiling to train others to use the equipment, so let him know if you're game...

Just another wonderful addition to Music at Park.....so stay tuned!

Happiest of holidays to you - Jenny