The Bells

Original Bells. The original four peal (swinging) bells were installed in the bell tower and dedicated on Dec. 9, 1990. Given by the estate of Chris Wellons in memory of her husband James Wellons, the Wellons Peal Bells (as they are known at PHUMC) are still in use in the tower.

New Bells. Twenty new cast bronze bells with strikers were added in 1999, which gives PHUMC 24 bells - a carillon in bell terminology. The 20 new bells range from 71 pounds to 963 pounds in weight.

The new Paccard bells were cast in Annecy, France by Fonderie de Cloches (Foundry of Bells) and were acquired through the The Van Bergen Co. in South Carolina, which was established in 1795.

Since 1796, seven generations of Paccards have built more than 85,000 perfectly tuned bells, heard around the world. Americans have special cause to remember the name Paccard: every state capitol building in the U.S. has a replica of the Liberty Bell purchased through the sale of Savings Bonds and cast at the Paccard Foundry

In Memoriam - The new bells were given by the estate of Vera Cress and by Gil & Helen Buchanan in memory of Vera & George Cress. The largest bell, weighing 963 pounds, was inscribed Easter 1999.

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