The McCoy Tower Bells
   (was McCoy Memorial Community Chimes)

*Location:

   Highlands United Methodist Church
   Five Points South
   (20th Street S at 11th Avenue S)
   Birmingham, Alabama, USA
   LL: N 33.50098, W 86.79589

Site locator map

*Player:

   Rick Phillips,
     Director of Music Ministries
   E: rick /@/ highlandsumc DOTnet

   25De1921 ded. M.H.Mettee of Baltimore

*Contact:

   Highlands Methodist Church
   1045 20th Street South
   Birmingham, AL  35205-2623
   T: (205)933-8751   F: (205)933-1801

*Schedule:

   Manually before and after worship, and
   for special occasions; electrically
   for Cambridge (Westminster) quarters.

*Remarks:

   Added semitones sharp 4th & flat 7th.
   Refurbished (and clock-chime added)
   in 1995.  New chimestand has space for
   3 additional trebles (as does the new
   electric action).  New electric
   keyboards in tower and sanctuary.

*Technical data:

   Traditional chime (chimestand) of 13 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is D  in the middle octave
   Transposition is up  2 semitone(s)
   Keyboard range:     C F   /    NONE  
   There are two added semitones
   The present keyboard was installed in unknown year
     by an unknown maker
   Prior history:
     In 1921, the complete instrument was installed
       with bells made by McShane     
   Auxiliary mechanisms: 25    
   Tower details: 
     Height of console:                 (unknown)
     Height of lowest level of bells:   (unknown)
     Height of highest level of bells:  (unknown)
     Belfry openness: QHI%
   Year of latest technical information source is 2010

Additional information on the technical history of this instrument can be found in a database printout.

The church Website opens with a photo of the unique Spanish Renaissance Revival building and its octagonal bell tower.  The History page (under About Us) relates the donation of the bells and the construction of the tower around them. 

A photo of the tower can be found on the Website of the associated 5 Points Worship group.

A local newspaper article (The Birmingham News, Saturday 24 Dec 1921, p6) announced the upcoming dedication of the chime, including five concerts over the weekend.

Where this work lies in the sequence of output of the McShane bellfoundry.

Ranking among all North American chimes by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American chimes by weight (pitch).
Ranking among all North American chimes by year of completion.

Index to all tower bell instruments in AL.

   This page was built from the database on 20-Feb-21
   based on textual data last updated on 2021/02/02
   and on technical data last updated on 2010/03/28