Concordia Seminary

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Concordia Seminary

A $17,000 Bequest from Arthur Thieman resulted in the installation of a 49-bell van Bergen carillon that was dedicated on May 9, 1971 by Raymond Keldermans.

Additional funds were raised by subscription.

References
1966 "A Carillon for Concordia," St. Louis Post Dispatch, September 21, 1966, Page 25.

1968 "Concordia Carillon Ready Next Summer," St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 20, 1968, Page 47.

1970 "Concordia Gets a Carillon," St. Louis Post Dispatch, November 4, 1970, Page 37.
A $17,000 Bequest from Arthur Thiemen, who wanted professors and students to hear "inspiring religious music from bells, led to a transatlantic search for the finest bell founder. One of the giant bells was sent by mistake to Seattle. Monday, however, the long wait came to an end.
The Concordia carillon is a memorial to the 8800 pastors who have served the Missouri Synod over the last 131 years and the long-time dream of Alfred O. Fuerbringer, former president of the seminary

Carillon
At the top of Luther Tower is the 49-bell carillon, which was dedicated in 1970 as a memorial to all pastors who have served The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
The carillon is one of 170 carillons in North America.
It was cast in 1969-70 at the van Bergen foundries in Holland and South Carolina. The largest bell weighs 2 1/2 tons and the lightest is 17 pounds.
The inaugural recital was played in the spring of 1971 by Raymond Keldermans, city park district carillonneur of Springfield, Ill. Today carillon concerts are offered each summer in June for both the Seminary campus and the surrounding community.
The carillon chimes Monday through Friday on campus as a call to chapel, and also on special occasions such as Call Day and Commencement.

© 2023 Morris A. Pierce