OUR HANDBELL CHOIR

            Handbells were introduced into our church in the mid-1980’s with the loaning of a set of handbells owned by Dorothy Greenough’s mother, which were one of the first sets of handbells brought into the United States.  We have had handbell choirs off and on, dictated according to people’s interests, ever since.  Because of the age and wear of these handbells, we decided last year to purchase a beginning set of our own handbells, which was dedicated in May of 2004.  At the same time, Ed and Polly Sauer purchased a set of hand chimes for our church.  Simultaneously, we hired Beverly Simpson, a noted composer for handbell music and techniques, to direct our newest Handbell Choir.  We have been delighted with their music and look forward, as finances permit, to expanding the range of our church’s set of handbells.  As interest increases, we one day hope to develop a handbell program that would offer more than one choir, and may include choirs for children and teens.