Westminster Presbyterian Church


Bells	Clavier

Links to Carillon Inventories
GCNA	Tower Bells	Bok Tower Gardens

Oklahoma City mortgage loan executive George P. Benson and his wife donated a 35-bell Petit and Fritsen carillon that was dedicated on November 25, 1954 with a recital given by James Lawson.

Six additional Petit and Fritsen bells were installed in 1956.

The instrument was rebuilt in 2019.

References
1954 "Westminster Carillon Dedicated Thanksgiving," Oklahoma City Star, November 5, 1954, Page 3.

1954 "Carillon Program at Oklahoma City," Tulsa World, November 24, 1954, Page 12.
Westminster Presbyterian Church Receives Gift
The-office of the carillonneur of the Rockefeller Memorial chapel at the University of Chicago and the ministry of music of the Westminster Presbyterian church Oklahoma City announce that a Southwestern Carillon Workshop will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian church in Oklahoma City Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday and Saturday.
The Workshop will be held in conjunction with the dedication of the new 35-bell carillon presented to the Westminster Presbyterian church by Mr and Mrs George P Benson. The carillon will be dedicated on Thanksgiving Day and the dedicatory recital played at 11 a.m. by James R. Lawson carillonneur of the Rockefeller Memorial chapel. The recital will feature the first performance of a new composition by the Dutch-American composer Johan Franco. The work “Fantasia on the Netherlands Hymn of Thanksgiving ‘Wilt heden nu treden’" (“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing”) was specially composed for the dedication of the new carillon. A second recital will be played at 4 p.m.
Invitations to participate in the workshop have been extended to all carillonneurs in the middle and southwest, including the carillonneurs of the University of Kansas, of Iowa State college, the Plymouth Congregational church in Lincoln, Neb., the First Presbyterian church in Jackson, Tenn., Southern Methodist university in Dallas, Tex., the First Presbyterian church in Birmingham, Ala., the Callie Self Memorial Baptist church in Greenwood, S.C., the First Presbyterian church in Lake Charles, La. to other carilloneurs in Texas and the adjoining states of Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, etc.
The workshop will be divided into four study sessions: Friday morning: I. The bell and the church—considering the performance and interpretation of religious music: Friday afternoon: II. Folk Music on Bells: Saturday morning: III. Classical music: Saturday afternoon: IV. Contemporary composition for carillon. Each session will be illustrated with demonstration recitals on the Westminster Presbyterian church carillon. Printed examples of carillon music will be distributed for examination and criticism.
A panel discussion on “The Nature of Bell Music” will be open to the musical public of Oklahoma City Friday night.
There is no fee for the workshop. Participants in the workshop will be guests in homes of members of the congregation of the Westminster church during the two-day sessions. Carillonneurs and other musicians interested in attending and desiring lodging arrangements should write to William W. Lemonds, Minister of Music, Westminster Presbyterian church, 43d and North Shartel, Oklahoma City 3, Okla.

1957 George Peter Benson (2 Feb 1884 - 2 Jun 1957) grave
He and his wife were active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church and donated the carillon bells installed in the belfry there and also the alter sets for the chapel and sanctuary of the church.