Thursday, March 28, 2024

Beloved chimes in Downtown Chelan now have lyrics

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CHELAN - The iconic musical chimes that float on the air from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Woodin Avenue in Downtown Chelan have received a recent enhancement, lyrics. The familiar chimes, known as The Westminster Quarters, is the name for a melody used by the set of striking clock bells to mark each quarter-hour. 
It is also referred to as the Westminster Chimes, from its use at the Palace of Westminster, or the Cambridge Quarters from its place of origin, the church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The chimes are also the tune for Big Ben, the world-renowned bell at the Queen Elizabeth Tower in London.
Last spring, the idea of posting the less-well-known lyrics to the chimes on a permanent banner or sign was developed by St. Andrew’s Bishop Committee, the elected council that performs the business and management functions of the local parish. 
“I’ve been singing the tune my entire life,” Vicar Rev. Linda Mayer said. “I grew up in Canada and it’s as familiar to school children in the Anglican Church as Ring Around the Rosie in the U.S.” 
With the project in motion and funded by the Bishop’s Committee, next-door-neighbor Larry Hibbard who owns the brick building, was contacted. He gave approval for posting a painted sign that would complement the landscaped garden around the historic log church. 
Manson-based Jill Risley, owner-artist of Fine Line Signs, designed and painted the lyric sign . The modest sign was recently mounted by volunteer Bill Fenton, of Chelan. 
The prayer inscribed on a plaque clock at St. Andrew’s reads:
O Lord our God
Thy children call
Grant us thy peace
And bless us all
St. Andrew's Church, built more than 110 years ago, is the oldest permanent structure in town. The church became the centerpiece around which the community grew to eventually become a city. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the authentic log church attracts many visitors from near and far. The public is welcome at Sunday services held at 10 a.m. Or, join us via Zoom by contacting Linda Mayer at 670-6166. The church is located at 120 E. Woodin Avenue, P.O. Box 1226 Chelan, WA 98816. Telephone: (509) 682-2851, email: mainbox@standrews-chelan.org

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