Choir and Handbell Director: Mr. Marvin Murphree
HANDBELLS
Handbells are designed to be rung by hand. A ringer grasps the bell by its handle and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike. They are generally heard in tuned sets of two to five or six octaves. The first tuned handbells were developed by Robert and William Cor in England around the end of the 17th century. Originally, tuned sets of handbells were used by change ringers to rehearse. The handbells sets used by change ringers had the same number of bells as in the towers - generally six or twelve bells tuned to a diatonic scale. Handbells were first brought to the United States from England in the early 1900s. In the 1940s people began ringing handbells in American churches and were first manufactured in the United States in the 1960s. Handbell ringing has progressed dramatically over the past forty years to their current level of popularity, especially in church music. First Presbyterian Church currently has a four octave set of Schulmerich handbells. Handbell ringing is also gaining popularity in many public school system music programs as well as in many college programs. First Presbyterian Church is fortunate to have this resource as part of our church music program. Currently, our program consists of one performing choir for the adults. For many years First Presbyterian Church has offered this ministry of bells to its members, as well as to people in the community.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHANCEL CHOIR:
The Chancel Choir provides worship through music for the traditional service, which is at 10:30 A.M. every Sunday. The Choir also participates in special services through out the year such as Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and more. If you would like to join us we practice on Wednesday nights at 7:00 P.M. We are a close family of friends that enjoy music, laughter and a deep love for God and the Church.
Come, be part of the church with us! Praise the Lord with the sound of glorious music! If you are interested in being a part of any of these musical offerings please contact us.
HANDBELLS
Handbells are designed to be rung by hand. A ringer grasps the bell by its handle and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike. They are generally heard in tuned sets of two to five or six octaves. The first tuned handbells were developed by Robert and William Cor in England around the end of the 17th century. Originally, tuned sets of handbells were used by change ringers to rehearse. The handbells sets used by change ringers had the same number of bells as in the towers - generally six or twelve bells tuned to a diatonic scale. Handbells were first brought to the United States from England in the early 1900s. In the 1940s people began ringing handbells in American churches and were first manufactured in the United States in the 1960s. Handbell ringing has progressed dramatically over the past forty years to their current level of popularity, especially in church music. First Presbyterian Church currently has a four octave set of Schulmerich handbells. Handbell ringing is also gaining popularity in many public school system music programs as well as in many college programs. First Presbyterian Church is fortunate to have this resource as part of our church music program. Currently, our program consists of one performing choir for the adults. For many years First Presbyterian Church has offered this ministry of bells to its members, as well as to people in the community.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHANCEL CHOIR:
The Chancel Choir provides worship through music for the traditional service, which is at 10:30 A.M. every Sunday. The Choir also participates in special services through out the year such as Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and more. If you would like to join us we practice on Wednesday nights at 7:00 P.M. We are a close family of friends that enjoy music, laughter and a deep love for God and the Church.
Come, be part of the church with us! Praise the Lord with the sound of glorious music! If you are interested in being a part of any of these musical offerings please contact us.