During an extensive period of expansion, St. Chrysostom’s welcomed one of the parish’s most beloved features - the Richard Teller Crane Memorial Carillon, installed in 1927 as one of the oldest in the country and the second oldest in the Midwest. Richard T. Crane, Jr. gave the carillon to St. Chrysostom’s in memory of his father, whose first business venture was bell-making. Mr. Crane went on to become a Chicago industrial magnate whose eponymous company manufactured metal goods for plumbing and central heating systems.
A carillon consists of tuned bells connected to an oversized keyboard from which the player rings the bells with fists and feet. Each baton at the keyboard is connected to a single clapper, which strikes the bell on the inside. With both fists and feet in action, performers can play a large range of repertoire, from hymns to classical arrangements to Christmas carols. This basic instrument mechanism dates from the early 16th century in Belgium and the Netherlands.
St. Chrysostom’s 43 carillon bells were cast and installed by the bell foundry Gillett and Johnston of England. Gillett and Johnston bells are known for their well-tuned, full tone, and these bells are no exception. The carillon underwent a major renovation in 2023, when the beloved church bells were removed from the bell tower and shipped to The Netherlands for a six-month complete restoration. The work, performed by Royal Eijsbouts Bell Foundry of Aston, included a new steel frame, linkages and a new playing clavier. Five new bells were added to the carillon, offering four full octaves of bells.
Today, the historic Crane Memorial Carillon is played every Sunday before and after the 10:15 a.m.service, at weddings, funerals and for special recitals. In addition, St. Chrysostom’s presents its Annual Carillon Festival on the first three Sundays of June, featuring carillonneurs from the United States, Canada and Europe.
