The carillon at St. Thomas’ Whitemarsh Episcopal Church in Fort Washington is being re-dedicated in honor of its 50th anniversary, Mainline Media News reported.

The Catherine Colt Dickey carillon debuted on September 29, 1974. (A carillon is a musical instrument of bells. Typically housed in a purpose-built bell tower or belfry, a carillon consists of at least 23 harmonically-tuned bells.)

Lisa Lonie, St. Thomas’ carillonneur since October 1999, will play the instrument during a special anniversary service on Sunday.

According to the article, St. Thomas’ carillon is housed in a 100′ sandstone tower and is equipped with 48 bronze bells which were cast in the Netherlands.

“The bells in medieval towns controlled the daily lives of the citizens,” Lonie said. “The way they were rung signaled when to get up, when to take the midday meal, when to muster to battle stations…everything from feasts to emergencies.”

Lonie has performed solo recitals and duets at Longwood Gardens, sold roughly 5,000 copies of her “The Bells of Christmas at Longwood Gardens” CD and appeared in the NBC-TV special “Ringing in the Holidays at Longwood Gardens.” She is also carillonneur at Princeton University and Philadelphia’s Church of the Holy Trinity. 

Photos: St. Thomas Whitemarsh