The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

Links to Carillon Inventories
GCNA	Tower Bells	Bok Tower Gardens

The Church of the Good Shepherd funded a carillon by soliciting memorials for each bell and 35-bells were cast by Petit and Fritsen. The carillon was dedicated March 20, 1955 by church carillonneur Kenneth White.

The carillon was enlarged to 43 bells in 1998 and five more bells were added in 1999.

References
1955 "Church of the Good Shepherd Installing City's First Carillon," Corpus Christi Times, March 6, 1955, Page 6.
Bells Guaranteed 150 Years.
The carillon was purchased by the congregation through dedications and memorials. The names of the persons memorialized or honored appear on the bells. Van de Veerdonk said that the carillon here was the second one in the world obtained through dedications Present day cost of the carillon here would be about $20,000, he said.

1955 "Carillon's Debut Sunday," Corpus Christi Times, March 17, 1955, Page 17.

1998 "Good Shepherd's new bells," Corpus Christi Caller-Times, October 8, 1998, Page 1.
Richard M. Watson of Meeks, Watson & Co.

Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal), Corpus Christi, TX (Meeks-Watson & Company)
This church possessed a 35 bell, three octave Petit & Fritsen carillon installed in 1954; this instrument was played regularly, but the action and framing were much deteriorated. Some of the larger bells had been positioned in the tower windows of this Spanish-style building, which was visually interesting, but undesirable from both an acoustic and mechanical standpoint for the carillon. We completed a thorough renovation, and the addition of 8 new bells in 1997, bringing this carillon to a compass of 3 ½ octaves, (43 bells). This renovation included new main and treble bell frames, hot-dip galvanized for this location overlooking Corpus Christi Bay; all bells were now hung within the bell chambers, and arranged in a manner that promoted both an even sound transmission to the listening areas, as well as an enhanced design for excellent access to the action. The lowest basses were fitted with new sealed ball bearing transmission bar type action, while the mediums and trebles were fitted with new sealed ball bearing radial-type action. New 4 1/2 octave playing and practice keyboards were also built, to allow future additions. The largest new bell furnished at this time was a C4 of 650 lbs., to fill the originally-omitted second keyboard semitone. The church built a new playing platform, to eliminate excess transmission wire length, and provide a location for the installation of the new, larger, playing keyboard. A finished room at the gallery level in the tower was made available to be the new practice room, and the new practice keyboard was installed here. At the same time, the church had the original ineffective wooden movable shutters in the bell chamber openings removed, and a new system of electrically operated rolling protective closures, to keep weather out of the chamber when the carillon is not being played. In October, 1999, we added 5 more bells for this carillon (two large bells and three trebles), for which the bell frames were prepared, completing a four-octave instrument of 48 bells, from G3.

Church of the Good Shepherd Carillon
The Church of the Good Shepherd treasures the rich and harmonic tones of the Carillon, housed in the Bell Tower. It is one of only thirteen in the state of Texas. First acquired in 1955, the Carillon has been added to, repaired and enhanced over the years. It now consists of 48 bells and 4 octaves, making it a true concert instrument. The largest bell weighs approximately 1,800 pounds, while the smallest bell weighs only 15 pounds. These weights are significant, as the Carillon is not electronically played. The Carilloneur plays a manual baton-type keyboard and pedal keyboard. Since 1955, there have only been three Carilloneurs at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The Carillon is played Sunday mornings before church services, for weddings, funerals, and St. James Episcopal School functions.