BLOOMFIELD HILLS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI GROUP BHHS57 THE KIRK IN THE HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BHHS57 - Our Graduation Day - June 13, 1957 Kirk in the Hills - Bloomfield Hills, Michigan The Kirk in the Hills church was a partner in our educational experience. Some of our classmates attended there while other friends joined them during various events. However, who will ever forget the night of our graduation in 1957 when an electrical storm caused lights to go out in our high school auditorium and a fire started inside the Kirk in the Hills and several classmates assisted in moving items out of harms way from smoke damage.// -CRE Architect George D. Mason designed the present church. Wirt Rowland had made preliminary designs for the church before World War II, Services were held in the Undercroft beginning in 1952 and continued during the construction of the church until a disastrous fire destroyed most of the roof. The Church held its first services in the sanctuary on November 23, 1958. The Kirk in the Hills is modeled after Scotlands Melrose Abbey. The Kirk in the Hills is Set on 40 acres of beautifully landscaped lakeside grounds, constitutes a fine example of Gothic architecture in the United States. Kirk is the Scottish word for Church. The church includes the Tower of the Apostles. The tower, which houses the worlds largest carillon in the number of bells contained, was installed in 1960, The Bells were donated by the Roy A. Fruehauf family and the five largest bells are named after the members of the Fruehauf Family: Roy, Ruth, Royce, Randall, and Ruth Ann. Previously Mr. Fruehauf had donated the Organ to the Church after the fire. Mr. Fruehauf was instrumental in the building of the Abbey and made a generous donation just before his death in 1965. The 77-bells range from a 610 6-short ton bourdon to the smallest at 6 14-pounds.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:21:27 +0000
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