The First Presbyterian Bell Choir plays for Sunday services as requested and prepares concerts for the TGIF recital series in December and May. The annual Christmas concert is a community favorite, and may include instrumental soloists and the organ. It often premieres music written for it by David Beatty, Associate Musician. The bell choir rehearses on Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. during the fall, winter, and spring seasons.
The Bell Choir has a long tradition at the church. In the 1950s, a hand bell sales representative visited the pastor of the church, the Reverend Kenneth Keeler, who had previously heard a performance of bell ringers at a national church meeting. With two octaves of bells acquired, the first bell choir, Youth Ringers, was formed and was considered part of the youth ministry. Its members became a source of future members of the church’s Chancel Choir. During the tenure of the Reverend Robert Boshen in the 1950s, Mary Boshen often related that Robert Boshen asked her to marry him because of her service as a bell choir director in California. In 1987, Linda Raney formed the Bell Choir. Today the group has no age restrictions and is open to all, under the direction of Travis Bregier, Assistant Choir Director. If you would like to ring bells, please contact the church office.
