Traveling around campus throughout the day, Elon University students can hear chimes from the Elon Community Church. What they may not know is that these sounds are not actually bells. Instead they come from a machine called a digital carillon that echoes through speakers.
Funding for this machine came from the will of Kenneth Hughes, in which he donated $18,000 to the church. His daughter, Kay Elder, had executive decision of where the money would go with permission of the church, resulting in the installation of the carillon in 1990. The carillon was installed using only a tape deck, a machine used for playing and recording audio on compact cassettes.
Instead of real bells, which cost more than $100,000, Elder settled on mimicked ones. Now, a black computer-like screen sits on the balcony of the sanctuary under lock and key to prevent anyone from meddling with it.
The church uses a Verdin Sonata Digital Carillon, complete with a 7-inch color touch screen for quick and easy use. The carillon plays hundreds of hymns, seasonal and general music from an extensive library in traditional cast bronze bells, bells with harp accompaniment and American bells.
Although her father was not necessarily interested in music, Elder said the carillon would be a great addition and something he would have liked to hear.
“My sister had [a carillon] at her church,” Elder said. “That’s where we got the idea from. [After it was installed] my mother would always come to campus and listen from the street.”
The Hughes family has been a part of the church for decades. Elder herself grew up attending the church, watched it expand on campus while she attended Elon and continues to volunteer her time there today. Her biggest contribution is the carillon.
Every weekday at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., the carillon chimes three different songs in approximately 10 minutes. The carillon is also played each Sunday for services. They are never played on Saturdays for fear of interrupting students or graduation ceremonies.
These songs are pre-programmed each week with a different combination of song choices for each time slot. The church’s minister has executive decision on what songs are played but takes recommendations from church members. Elder assisted in choosing this music.
Additionally, the minister has a wireless remote, allowing him easy access to the carillon during church services, funerals and weddings.
When Elder moved back to Elon for the first time in 40 years she found that the carillon was broken and the bells were silenced. Elder knew she had a responsibility to repair them and put $4,000 of her own money to upgrade it to a digital system. She said the quality is much better, and it has not broken since.
Although the upgrade was pricy, to hear the ring echo again was worth the cost to Elder.
“They are important to me because they are in memory of my dad,” Elder said. “They remind me of him whenever I hear them. There is so much grief and loss, and this is one of the ways to connect to the past.”
Now that the machine is up and running again, she can listen and remember through each song that rings throughout the day. Her favorites include “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” as well as other popular hymns and the Christmas music that plays during the season.
Elder has noticed that the carillon has benefitted not only the church but also the community.
“People are always telling me how pretty they are,” Elder said. “I think people are appreciative that we have them. If the air is right, sometimes I can hear it from my house a few blocks away.”
Elon students appreciate the sounds of the carillon, too. Sophomore Rachael Morton is brightened by the music she hears on her way to class everyday.
“There is something about music that makes people happy and smile,” Morton said. “The bells are a form of that, adding a soundtrack to our day and lifting our spirits. I’m glad we have them.”