St. Peter's Carillon was featured in an article in the Daily Record about Carillons in NJ.

On Palm Sunday, April 13, 1924, the carillon at St. Peter’s was dedicated by the Rev. Donald Brookman. After praying for the donors of the bells, the workmen who fashioned them, the craftsmen who put them in place and all who would play them, “now and in all coming time”, the congregation and choir sang the familiar hymn, “Ring Out Wild Bells”. At that time there were 35 bells, almost three octaves and was the largest of the few modern scientifically tuned instruments in the United States.

Now in 2021, its ninety seventh anniversary year there are 49 bells in St. Peters carillon and only 159 carillons with baton type consoles in North America.  While 53 of these carillons are larger, 13 others also contain 49 bells and 92 are smaller.

The bells are located high in the bell tower. Performances by resident and guest carillonneurs, in addition to regular playing before and after Sunday services, can be heard throughout the local area and community of Morristown.

The 49 bells of St. Peter's carillon span more than four octaves except for low C sharp. Because of the size and weight of the low tone bells, this tone is often omitted in favor of the more frequently used low A sharp, more than one octave below middle C. This bell, the Bourdon weighs 4600 lbs. and is the largest in the carillon.

The original 35 bells of St. Peter' s carillon were made by Taylor of Loughborough, England. A bell sound contains at least five partial tones which must all be tuned. These partials are set and tuned at the bell foundry. In casting, the bell is made slightly thicker and with a smaller interior diameter to yield a note slightly higher than specified. The bell’s profile, shape, and thickness are then carefully adjusted in the tuning process to set the correct relationship of the five partial tones. Each bell must also be in tune with the other bells of the carillon. It was not until the early 20th century that Taylor and Gillett & Johnson perfected tuning.

The bells were delivered to the church beginning in the fall of 1923. Before being installed in the tower, the bells were kept on the lawn where a service was held to bless them.  They were then hoisted to the top of the tower and placed in the belfry.

Twelve new bells from Paccard et Cie of France, were added to the carillon in 1952. These were the lighter bells used mainly for fast running passages of music. Then, when the carillon was renovated in 1991, another two bells were installed bringing the total to 49.

Many of the bells are inscribed as "gifts in memoriam".  The first bell in the carillon was bought from the Taylor foundry in England in l922 by Mrs. William B. McVicar and gifted in memory of William Bard McVicar and John Bard McVicar. Thirty of the other bells also bear inscriptions.

There are over 180 carillons in the U.S.

There are three other carillons in New Jersey:

• Princeton University – 67 bells cast in 1927 by Gillett & Johnson, 1968 and 1993 with bells from the Paccard Foundry and Petit & Fristen Foundry

• Grace Church Carillon, Plainfield, NJ - 47 bells cast 1923 by Gillet & Johnston

• St. Georges-by-the-River, Rumson - 26 bells cast in 1934 by Taylor

The Carillonneurs

The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America confers the title carillonneur by examination. Former carillonneurs at St. Peter's were:

Frederick Rocke                            1924 - 1929

Ernest J Parsons                            1929 - 1956

C. Geoffrey B. Garrett                  1956 - 1970

A. Ross Eckler                               1970 - 1990

Also, many noted guest carillonneurs from around the world have played St. Peter's carillon. In August 1939, the Guild held their third Congress in Morristown hosted by St. Peters church.

During the years 1999-2020, Parishioner John Dyer played the bells. Currently, Joe Decker is playing the Carillon.