Trinity Lutheran Church

Links to Carillon Inventories
GCNA	Tower Bells	Bok Tower Gardens

A carillon in the memory of Myriel Doris Mohnke was donated by her parents, Max E. Mohnke, Sr. and Therese Mohnke, and her Aunt Emilie Hoop.

The instrument was started with 12 Petit and Fritsen bells in 1954 with another 13 bells added and dedicated on February 16, 1958 by Herbert E. Garske.

References
1934 Myriel Doris Mohnke (16 Sep 1922 - 2 Nov 1936) grave

2023 Trinity Church archivist Ruth Stoerkel graciously provided the following information:
The original 12 bells were dedicated November 21, 1954, when Trinity Lutheran Church built its new sanctuary at 800 Houston Avenue, Houston, TX; This set of bells-the largest is inscribed with the memorial dedication that you already know - to Myriel Doris Mohnke, etc. An additional 13 bells were added and dedicated on Sunday, February 16, 1958. These bells were dedicated in memory of M. E. Mohnke, Sr. (Myriel's father) by Mrs. M. E. Mohnke, Sr, Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Mohnke, Jr, and Miss Emilie Hoop. Herbert Garske, Trinity's Organist and Choirmaster was the Carillonneur at both dedications. Mr. Robert Steuber was a long-time Carillonneur at Trinity followed by several talented Carillonneurs. Robert Steuber handcrafted a practice clavier to exact measurements using an electronic keyboard to produce the appropriate pitch sounds. Mr. Steuber donated the clavier to Trinity. Originally the carillon was manually operated.
In April, 2015 the carillon's bells and framework were refurbished and a state of the art digital automated bell-ringing equipment and master control system was installed. This upgrade was also donated by the Mohnke family in memory of Myriel Mohnke (1922-1936).
The first mention that I found using the name "Theresa Mohnke Memorial Carillon" was in 2008.
Herbert E. Garske (1920-2009) was an accomplished musician. His obituary is still on the web. He was the organist, choirmaster, and teacher in Trinity's church parochial school, including the original Carillonneur from 1943-1964. He received a degree at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, A Master of Music Degree in organ at Northwestern University, and was Dean of the Houston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He served on other Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Commissions on Worship, Liturgies and Hymnology and continued his career in Professorship in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and organist for congregations and participating in organ recitals and hymn festivals, etc. even after his retirement.
He was my teacher in the parochial school here in Houston in Grades 5 & 6 and choir director when I participated in the Children's Choir.
He was quite a gentleman/scholar.

Trinity's Carillon
Trinity Lutheran Church (downtown) is home to one of only three traditional carillons (bell towers) in Houston (16 in Texas and 171 in US). A traditional carillon has at least 23 bells played from a “keyboard” of batons or clavier; fewer bells are known as a “chime of bells.” In 1954, Trinity dedicated the original 12 bells. Then in 1957, 13 more bells were added to make the existing 25-bell carillon. In 2015, a major refurbishment of the bells and its framework was done, as well as the installation of a state of the art digital automated bell-ringing equipment and a master control system. This affords incredible versatility including playing songs from a catalog of more than 200 pre-programmed music selections, recording new songs and chiming the quarter hour!
The original bells were a generous gift to Trinity by the Mohnke family in memory of their young daughter, with this inscription on some of the larger bells: “In Memoriam to the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Myriel Doris Mohnke, 1922-1936 by Her Parents, Max E. Mohnke, Sr. and Therese Mohnke and her Aunt Emilie Hoop.” On other bells are the words: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8.” The 2015 upgrade work was also a gift by current members of the Mohnke family.