First United Methodist Church of Germantown

Links to Carillon Inventories
GCNA	Tower Bells	Bok Tower Gardens

A carillon of 63 bells cast by the John Taylor Bell Foundry in Loughborough, England, was given to the First United Church of Germantown by William H. and Susanna R. Shelmerdine in memory of their son Thornton. William Shelmerdine. The carillon had 48 notes and was dedicated on May 8, 1927 with recitals given by Anton Brees and Ruth Muzzy Conniston.

Two bells were added and fifteen duplicate bells removed in 1990, leaving 50 bells in place.

References
1923 Thornton William Shelmerdine (7 May 1880 - 7 Apr 1923) grave91

1927 "Germantown Carillon," The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 16, 1927, Page 12.
The First Methodist Church of Gcrmantown is located at Gernmntown avenue and High street. The forty-eight-bell carillon which arrived recently from England for the church has not yet been installed. It is expected, however, that preparations for installing the carillon, the only one in Philadelphia, will begin shortly.

1927 "Second Largest Carillon in U.S.," The Philadelphia Press, March 31, 1927, Page 10.
A carillon, the second largest and best in the country, has been donated to the First Methodist Episcopal church of Germantown by William H. Shelmerdine, a trustee, in memory of his son, Thornton L. Shelmerdine.
The bells, which come from Loughborough. Eng., are 48 in number, and with the frame on which they hang have a total weight of 31 tons. The largest bell weighs three tons and the remainder graduate down for the different tones and half tones.
Bernard R. Mausert, organist and choirmaster, who will play the bells, says that the alterations which the tower has undergone will make it the best-fitted in the country. The tower will have all modern facilities, such as heat, light and telephone service.

1927 "Carillon Recital at Mercersburg," Franklin Repository, May 4, 1927, Page 1.
On Sunday morning Mr. Brees will play tho Carillon In the spire of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Germantown, at the dedicatory services of that carillon. Mr. Brees opened the Germantown carillon on Sunday last.

1927 "Carillon of 62 Bells Dedicated Tomorrow," The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 7, 1927, Page 27.

1958 "The Philadelphia Carillons," by Remy Müller, Bulletin of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America 11(1):11-24 (April 1958)
Pages 20-21: First Methodist Church of Germantown