|
|
The Kalamazoo College Guild of Change Ringers, made up of students, faculty, alumni, and members of the local community, practices the ancient art of English change ringing on the eight tower bells of Kalamazoo College's Stetson Chapel.
The bells, cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, England, were installed in 1984 as a 150th birthday present to the college. Change ringing bells are uncommon in this country; Kalamazoo's tower was only the 16th, and this is the only place in Michigan where these bells can be found.
Change ringing is a unique form of bell ringing, requiring intense concentration and teamwork among the ringers to achieve the distinctive cascading sound of ever-changing sequences.
The bells can be heard at Friday chapel services, and before and after many weddings, concerts, and other events.
News
25th Anniversary Peal. On May 31, 2009, a band of eight change ringers, including five K alumni, rang a peal of Double Norwich Court Bob Major to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the bells in Stetson Chapel. The bells were acquired as a 150th birthday present to the college and were originally dedicated on June 2, 1984. Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Jeff Smith, who introduced English change ringing to Kalamazoo College in 1977, was on hand during the three-hour peal to talk to 20-30 onlookers who were attracted by local media coverage.
The peal band with Professor Jeff Smith. Front row, left to right: Britt Hartenberger ’95, Rob Kakuk, Kit Almy ’89. Middle row, left
to right: Tom Farthing ’83, Margaret Miller, Paul Graupner, Russ Hankey ’96. Back row, left to right Mark Rizzo ’84, Jeff Smith.
The Kalamazoo Gazette ran a front-page story the day before the peal, and published this video on its website:
| Change Ringing at Kalamazoo | |
|
