TO: The Honorable Adrian Mapp, Mayor, City of Plainfield
The Most Reverend William Stokes, Bishop, The Diocese of New Jersey
The Honorable Barry N. Goode, President & Councilman-at-Large, 1st and 4th Wards, Plainfield City Council
Ms. Valerie Jackson, Director, City of Plainfield, Office of Economic Development
Mr. Bill Michelson, Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission
Ms. Karen Moore and Mr. Jason Algeo, Wardens, Grace Episcopal Church
Mayor Mapp, Bishop Stokes, President Goode, Director Jackson, Mr. Michelson, Ms. Moore, and Mr. Algeo:
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America recently met for our 79th annual congress at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. During this four-day gathering, carillonneurs from the United States, Canada, and Europe gathered to discuss issues related to the carillon – the instrument, its music, and the importance of carillon culture to the community. During our time together, we gathered with Chicagoans to listen to the Chapel’s 72-bell carillon built in 1932 by the legendary English founder Gillett and Johnston.
In the early twentieth century, the Gillett and Johnston foundry installed North America’s most important carillons. At the forefront of this story stands the Pittis Family Carillon at Grace Episcopal Church in Plainfield, NJ. This instrument began in 1923 with the installation of 23 bells made by Gillett and Johnston — the second Gillett and Johnston instrument installed in North America. The Pittis Family Carillon was enlarged to a 47-bell instrument in 1969 with bells by the Paccard foundry. The bells of this historic instrument have rung out for nearly a century. It is our hope that the Plainfield community will continue to enjoy this instrument for 100 more years!
The board of directors of the GCNA support efforts to save this historic instrument. Members of our organization have served as carillonneurs at Grace Church. Our organization’s scholarly journal, The Bulletin, documented the importance of this instrument in a 1993 article penned by one of our respected carillonneur members. Carillons are a community instrument: they ring in celebration and comfort in times of grief. The Pittis Family Carillon has been integral to the fabric of Plainfield and all efforts should be made to ensure that the instrument remains a part of the community’s future.
About the Guild: The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America is an organization of professional musicians dedicated to promoting the carillon art. It supports the development of proficient carillonneurs and encourages the building of new carillons, the improvement of existing installations, and the composition and distribution of carillon music. Over 150 of our members have completed the examination process to receive certification of performance proficiency including competency in musicianship and carillon technique. The carillon is not a relic of the past, but a living art with a dedicated network of support behind it.
Thank you for your efforts to preserve the carillon at Grace Episcopal Church. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Laura Ellis
President, The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
president@gcna.org