In response to a New Year's sermon about spreading the Gospel, James R. Gilliam had a set of ten bells called a "chime" installed in the tower of Court Street Methodist Church in 1909. These bells comprised the eight pitches of the scale of F with an added E flat and G. The lowest bell (F) or tenor bell, weighed 1,800 pounds and the total net weight of the bells was 7,200 pounds. A console for playing the bells was located on the 2nd floor of the tower and was connected to the bell clappers by a mechanism that extended to the top of the tower, approximately seven stories high.
In addition to calling parishioners to worship, the bells, which could be heard widely over downtown Lynchburg, were featured in concerts with published programs. They were also used to announce news of both joy and sadness to the whole community.
More recently, the C. Lynch Christian family made it possible for the bell mechanism to be modified to allow the bells to be played electronically, both from a small keyboard at the base of the tower, and also from a computerized panel in the tower. This has allowed the bells to chime the hour and quarter-hours, as well as to peal and toll the bells.
Pastor
The Reverend C. Douglas Pillow
To see our entire staff, click here.