Ringing in a New Bell
On May 2, following a school meeting in the Irvine Memorial Chapel, the Mercersburg community marveled as a new bell was hoisted 100 feet and lifted into the chapel’s Swoope Carillon.

The two-ton, 139-pound bell will ring a C-sharp and is the third largest of the carillon’s 50 bells. The new bell was cast in England more than a year ago before having its top affixed and its clapper installed in Ohio prior to its arrival on campus. Mercersburg’s carillon has had a key for the new bell since its completion in 1926.

The new bell is named for and dedicated to Academy carillonneur James W. Smith, who has served the school in this capacity for 27 years. Smith came to Mercersburg as an organist and choirmaster in 1965 and was later named head of the fine arts department. For several decades, Smith was the organist for the Mercersburg Community Chorus and Orchestra. After the Academy became co-ed in the late 1960s, he formed the Mercersburg Chorale and the Women’s Ensemble.

Smith was appointed carillonneur at Mercersburg in 1981 following the retirement of Bryan Barker, who served 53 years at the Academy. Smith has studied with noted Washington National Cathedral carillonneurs Richard Strauss and Edward Nassor.

Smith retired from teaching in 2001, and was honored with the Alumni Council Award for service and accomplishment at the Academy. In the same year, he was successful at the Advancement Examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America, thereby obtaining full membership into the Guild.

As a recitalist, Smith has performed on carillons throughout New England, and often at the Netherlands Carillon, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia; the Baker’s Park carillon in Frederick, Maryland; and the carillon at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. He has also played carillons in Norway, Denmark, Poland, and Australia.

Check back in the near future for photos from the ceremony.