New Chimes Will Ring at Dordt College

Dordt College students, administrators, and others will gather on Friday night to dedicate a new 54-foot, free-standing clock tower that has been in the college's plans for many years.

As part of the dedication ceremony, chimes will ring from the carillon, resounding across the campus of the Reformed college in Sioux Center, Iowa for the first time. The tower stands just outside the Campus Center building.

A carillon is a large musical instrument often consisting of cup-shaped, brass bells. The greatest concentration of carillons is still found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France, where they were symbols of civic pride and status, according to Wikipedia, the on-line encyclopedia.

During the dedication, the audience will hear the ringing of six hymns – played as a way to reflect Dordt’s commitment to a Reformed, Christ-centered renewal in all of life.

The tower holds hundreds of songs including many familiar hymns and liturgical songs in its repertoire.

"It's so exciting to see this piece of Dordt’s long-term campus master plan finally come to fruition,” said John Baas, vice president for college advancement. "I think the clock tower and the regular chiming of the carillon will quickly become a very special part of the fabric of the Dordt College experience."

Following the dedication, the clock tower will begin its regular chiming schedule.

The clock will sound every quarter hour from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. It will chime every hour throughout the night at a low volume. Music will play for 10 minutes at noon each day and prior to the 11 a.m. Wednesday chapel services.

Special holiday selections have also been chosen for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

The tower is one of a series of capital improvements made possible through the ongoing Vision 2020 capital campaign. The clock tower was funded entirely by the donations of friends of Dordt College.