Many sixteenth-century cathedrals had tower bells, some as many as six, to ring in different sequences to signal times of day or the starting of events. To provide convenient practice for those responsible for ringing the patterns—called bell changes—churches employed use of small hand-held bells.
So successful was this method and so pleasing to the ear was the music produced during these hand-bell practice sessions that someone, unrecorded by history, decided to tune the handbells to the musical scale. Thus was the birth of handbell choirs that toured throughout Europe in the 1500s.
Although the single bell in the Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church belfry doesn't require bell change practice, we have a beautiful set of handbells and a talented group of players who confess to having a ball ringing bells to glorify God during special worship services each year.
Sit in on any rehearsal session. We're pretty certain you won't be able to resist chiming in!
| REHEARSALS | T 8:30–9:30am Sep–Jun Su 8:00–8:30am on days of worship service performance |
|---|---|
| PERFORMANCE | Su 9:00am and 10:30am Christian and select other holidays |
| PURPOSE | provide alternative worship music |
| ELIGIBILITY | open to the community men and women, 18 years of age and older no auditions no prior hand-bell experience |
| ADVANTAGES | good ear for pitch ability to read musical notation good concentration skills |
| TRAINING | Get Started class available |
| COST | sheet music and robes provided at no cost |
| LOCATION | Center for Christian Education, Choir Room 949 C Avenue, Coronado, CA Download a Campus Map |
| LEADERS | Director of Music Ministries |
| CONTACT | Email or (619) 435–6860 x 17 |