PROVIDENCE - G : USA - RI

*Location:

   Grace Church in Providence (Episcopal)
   Mathewson and Westminster Streets
   Providence, Rhode Island, USA
   LL: N 42.82210, W 71.41368
Site locator map

*Player:

   Mark Johnson, Music Director
   H: (401)454-7436
   E: markcjohnson@verizon.net

*Contact:

   Grace Church
   175 Mathewson Street
   Providence, RI  02903-3499
   T: (401)331-3225   F: (401)331-3247
   E: jmtimpson@verizon.net  [parish sec'y]

*Schedule:

  (unknown)

*Remarks:

   Original bells by Henry N. Hooper &
   Co., Boston.  Cambridge (Westminster)
   quarters from Seth Thomas tower clock.
   Electric keyboard (movable) near
   chancel, with action independent of
   clock and chimestand.

*Technical data:

   Traditional chime (chimestand) of 16 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is D  in the middle octave
   Transposition is nil (concert pitch)
   Keyboard range:     D G   /    NONE  
   There are two missing bass semitones
   There is no practice console
   9 bells were recast or replaced in 1940
     by Meneely/Wvlt
   Prior history:
     In 1861, the complete instrument was installed
       with bells made by Hooper/Blake
       (7 bells remain from that work.)
   Year of latest technical information source is 1993
Additional information on the technical history of this instrument can be found in a database printout.

*Links:

The redesigned church Website has a paragraph about the bells (under Music), but a former lengthy article has disappeared.  There is no history, and no photo of the building.

The historical note for a library special collection adds further details, but incorrectly attributes the recasting and retuning to the Meneely/Troy bellfoundry.

A Waymarking page has photos of the building and tower, and links to other materials.

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Hooper/Blake bellfoundry.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.

Other chimes which qualify as mini-carillons.

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 RI.

*Status:

   This page was built from the database on  8-Sep-06
   based on textual data last updated on 2006/09/08
   and on technical data last updated on 2001/12/12


Explanations of page format and keyboard range are available.

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