Bells, bells, beautiful bells! Since 1958, the Community Church has enjoyed the beautiful music of
handbells in joyful worship, fellowship, and outreach.
The Community Church currently has two bell choirs:
* the Chancel Bells, for adults and older youth
* the Sunday Ringers, for youth in 4th grade and up.
The Chancel Bells rehearse on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The Sunday Ringers rehearse
on Sunday mornings from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM. Both choirs welcome new members on a regular basis!
In addition, there are opportunities for quartet, duet, and solo bell ringing, and for accompanying
hymns and anthems.
History of Bells at The Community Church
The church’s first set of handbells was a 2-octave set of Whitechapel bells purchased in 1958 by Ann
Gambling when she was in England. Ann was the organist at the church, and she organized the first
handbell choir.
When Ann retired, she gave the bells to the church. Later, when Elaine Baver was organist, an
additional octave of bells was purchased as a memorial to Carolyn Moulton Harris’s mom. Elaine also
started the church’s first youth bell choir.
Over time, additional bells were purchased, expanding the set to 55 bells, or four+ octaves (equivalent
to G3 to C#8). In June 1975, the adult bell choir attended a four-day gathering of Whitechapel handbell
choirs that took place in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Around 1981, the Whitechapel bells were shipped to a
handbell repair specialist to be refurbished.
In 1985, Janet Eveleth became the bell director. In the 1990s, the adult bell choir started attending a
handbell festival each year. The choir also played at places such as The Market Street Mission and at
the town Tree-Lighting Ceremony in early December.
Two octaves of Malmark handbells were given to the church in the late 1990s in memory of Martha
and Byron Patterson. A third octave of Malmark bells was added a few years later, given in memory of
Harold Tippy, John Croswell, Adolph and Tiny Wichman, and Carol Barnes’ father, “Sir.”
In 2011, the church received a generous bequest from the estate of Howard Mackey, allowing for the
purchase of the 4th and 5th octaves of Malmark bells. The bells were dedicated in worship on Oct.
16th, 2011 by the Chancel Bells, and played in a dedicatory concert that evening by the Walsh
Memorial Grazio Handbell Choir from the Presbyterian Church in Morris Plains.
In addition, the church has a 3-octave set of Suzuki tone chimes that are used with and independent of
the handbells. In 2012, the Whitechapel bells are again being sent out to be refurbished, and on March
17th, 2012, the church will host an HMA (Handbell Musicians of America) Spring Read ’n’ Ring
Workshop.
handbells in joyful worship, fellowship, and outreach.
The Community Church currently has two bell choirs:
* the Chancel Bells, for adults and older youth
* the Sunday Ringers, for youth in 4th grade and up.
The Chancel Bells rehearse on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The Sunday Ringers rehearse
on Sunday mornings from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM. Both choirs welcome new members on a regular basis!
In addition, there are opportunities for quartet, duet, and solo bell ringing, and for accompanying
hymns and anthems.
History of Bells at The Community Church
The church’s first set of handbells was a 2-octave set of Whitechapel bells purchased in 1958 by Ann
Gambling when she was in England. Ann was the organist at the church, and she organized the first
handbell choir.
When Ann retired, she gave the bells to the church. Later, when Elaine Baver was organist, an
additional octave of bells was purchased as a memorial to Carolyn Moulton Harris’s mom. Elaine also
started the church’s first youth bell choir.
Over time, additional bells were purchased, expanding the set to 55 bells, or four+ octaves (equivalent
to G3 to C#8). In June 1975, the adult bell choir attended a four-day gathering of Whitechapel handbell
choirs that took place in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Around 1981, the Whitechapel bells were shipped to a
handbell repair specialist to be refurbished.
In 1985, Janet Eveleth became the bell director. In the 1990s, the adult bell choir started attending a
handbell festival each year. The choir also played at places such as The Market Street Mission and at
the town Tree-Lighting Ceremony in early December.
Two octaves of Malmark handbells were given to the church in the late 1990s in memory of Martha
and Byron Patterson. A third octave of Malmark bells was added a few years later, given in memory of
Harold Tippy, John Croswell, Adolph and Tiny Wichman, and Carol Barnes’ father, “Sir.”
In 2011, the church received a generous bequest from the estate of Howard Mackey, allowing for the
purchase of the 4th and 5th octaves of Malmark bells. The bells were dedicated in worship on Oct.
16th, 2011 by the Chancel Bells, and played in a dedicatory concert that evening by the Walsh
Memorial Grazio Handbell Choir from the Presbyterian Church in Morris Plains.
In addition, the church has a 3-octave set of Suzuki tone chimes that are used with and independent of
the handbells. In 2012, the Whitechapel bells are again being sent out to be refurbished, and on March
17th, 2012, the church will host an HMA (Handbell Musicians of America) Spring Read ’n’ Ring
Workshop.
| The Community Church of Mountain Lakes United Church of Christ |
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| Handbell Information |
| Bell Choir at Bell Festival |