The Henry Bucher Swoope Carillon

*Location:

   Barker Tower
   Chapel
   Mercersburg Academy
   Rutledge Road at Sycamore Avenue
   Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, USA
   LL: N 39.82457, W 77.89987

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   James A. Brinson, organist   (A)
   H: 717-328-5819   W: 717-328-6334
   F: 717-328-6375
   E: BrinsonJ@mercersburg.edu

   1926-28 Anton Brees   (d.)
   1928-81   Brian Barker   (1903-1984)
   1981-2009 James Winston Smith
               (1939-2009)(C)

*Contact:

   Mercersburg Academy
   300 East Seminary Street
   Mercersburg, PA  17236-1551
   T: 717-328-6173  -or-  800-588-2550
   F: 717-328-6211

*Schedule:

   Sunday at 3pm during school terms.

*Remarks:

   Original G&J practice keyboard sold;
   destination unknown.  Original G&J
   playing keyboard on display in playing
   room.
   Added bells and new playing keyboard
   (1996) by Meeks & Watson.
   Newly-acquired practice keyboard by
   Taylor, 1973,  - Z 54: G C / G C 29,
   was formerly at Iowa State University.
   M&W replaced an octave of G&J trebles
   (preserved in the tower) as well as
   all clappers not previously replaced;
   the largest four were completed in
   Spring 2004, along with replacement of
   F#5; in Spring 2006 the F5 (ordered in
   Fall 2004) was replaced.
   May 2008: bass C# cast by Whitechapel
   to G&J heavy profile, with fittings
   and installation by Meeks, Watson & Co.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 50 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is A# in the bass octave
   Keyboard range:     A#C   /    A#C 26
   Transposition is nil (concert pitch)
   There is one missing bass semitone
   There is a non-identical practice console
   The instrument was enlarged in 2008
     with  1 bells made by Whitechapel  
   Prior history:
     In 2006,  2 bells were recast or replaced
       with bells made by Meeks,Watson
       (2 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     A#C   /    A#C 25
       There were two missing bass semitones
     In 2003, 12 bells were recast or replaced
       with bells made by Meeks,Watson
       (12 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
     In 1996, the instrument was enlarged to 49 bells
       by Meeks,Watson
       (6 bells remain from that work.)
     In 1926, the instrument was begun with 43 bells
       by Gillett & Johnston
       (29 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     C GA  /    C G   
       Transposition was down 2 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A#
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2007

On the Academy Website, the chapel can be seen in the center of a photo near the bottom of the home page.  It appears in two larger photos on a page about the chapel and spirituality.  There is a full page about the carillon; it includes a video (1:35).

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Gillett & Johnston bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meeks & Watson bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the third phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meeks & Watson bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the fourth phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meeks & Watson bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Whitechapel bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by weight.
Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American concert class carillons by year of completion.

Other concert carillons with similar keyboard ranges.

Index to all traditional carillons in PA.

Index to all tower bell instruments in PA.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2020/12/12
   and on technical data last updated on 2020/12/12