Member Contributions

I had no idea Bruce was so young! Wonderful article which, strangely enough, a fellow parishioner who knows me to be a bell ringer clipped for me to see. Hope to see you all at the Spring Dinner in March.

I actually contacted and have been discussing the issues with Benjamin Sunderlin and in the process the senior warden has shut us down saying the church doesn't have the funds to proceed at this time (and they just spent multi millions on a new parish hall, go figure). So unless there is financial aid or we run some sort of successful crowd funding campaign (as if!) I'm sad to report Abilene's bells will be silent for the indefinite future. It really looked like the powers that be were on board with this but I guess I was mistaken. I wish I had better news.

As a follow-up to this article, we have more information now concerning the state of our frame and fittings. After an initial evaluation by the Verdin company (who bought Schulmerich who originally installed the bells) we might have even more on our plate than just a new frame and fittings. The frame was measured to sway over an inch in the direction opposite the swing of the treble. It was also noted that as the bells are cast to the carillon standard as opposed to the change ringing standard it might be the case that the bells themselves fail due to the force of the clapper strikes. The company has actually recommended an entirely new ring and to move the existing change ringing bells up into the rest of the carillon. We were ready to commission the work to Whitechapel but as they are no longer taking on new projects we are looking for alternatives. If anyone has any guidance, suggestions or whatever regarding this matter please share them with me so I can forward them on to the vestry. They are wanting to be proactive about this so any help anyone could possibly provide would be appreciated.