Handbell Music

English Handbell Ministry at  St. Matthew’s

The English Handbell Ministry at St. Matthew’s, directed by Susan Lee, began in 1997 with a group of interested ringers playing on borrowed handchimes, followed by our fundraising efforts to purchase handbells and the necessary equipment. Our 3-octave set of Schulmerich handbells, 3 octaves of handchimes, 8 tables, 8 foam, mallets, binders and gloves arrived in August 1998, and over the years we have increased to 5 octaves of handbells, 5½ octaves of handchimes, and 12 tables and foam, plus extras.

From the original 8 ringers who rehearsed at the director’s home during the remodeling and construction of the new sanctuary, the Handbell Ministry at St. Matthew’s increased to a pre-Covid full ensemble of 14 ringers, several smaller ensembles, and select trios and quartets. * During the COVID restriction, small groups of ringers continued to meet and record music for online worship. Our numbers were drastically reduced due to health issues or members moving out of state. However, we continue to rehearse two groups, a small ensemble and a full ensemble with 11-13 ringers.

Ringtones is a small ensemble of 4-6 ringers who seek the additional challenge of ringing ensemble music, to ring different ringing placements, and to learn or perfect new techniques. This group participates in worship once a month.

Bells of St. Matthew’s is an adult group of 11-13 ringers who ring Level 2-4 music and ring once a month for the 10:30 AM worship service as well as for special services. We are always looking for interested ringers, those who have had some experience with reading music and ringing handbells or handchimes, as well as those who would like to learn. Please contact Susan Lee, Director of Handbell Ministries, at handbells@saint-matthews.org

REHEARSAL AND RINGING SCHEDULE:

Ensemble Rehearsal Time
Ringtones Tuesdays 3:45-4:30 p.m.
Bells of St. Matthew’s (BoSM) Tuesdays 4:30-5:45

Photo: Handbell Ringers

If you would like to learn more about these groups, especially with an interest in learning to ring handbells or in joining one of these ensembles, please send an email to Susan Lee, Director of Handbell Ministries, at handbells@saint-matthews.org. Interested but don’t see something that fits your schedule? We can work together to find an opportunity for you to ring.

SKILL BUILDING and REPERTOIRE READING
– Sue Lee and Diane Burke (Director of the Lincoln Ringers, Sudbury Ringers, and Marlboro Ringers,)  co-sponsor a workshop in early fall with Skill Building classes in the morning and an afternoon of Repertoire Reading.  Classes are taught by highly skilled handbell ringers, several who are members of Merrimack Valley Ringers (mvringers.org). For more information and to register for the 9/24/22 skill building workshop, click here.

AREA 1 FESTIVAL/CONFERENCE
Several handbell ringers from St. Matthew’s  have attended the Area1Handbell Musicians F/C, which is held every two years.  This is a three and a half day event filled with many classes, numerous rehearsals and concerts, and interesting interaction with other handbell ringers from the six New England states, with some from even further away. Well known clinicians and directors make this an exciting event to attend. 


MASSACHUSETTS SPRING RING
For 33 years, Massachusetts held a handbell festival in the spring. It first started as the Chelmsford Handbell Festival, later changed its name to the Merrimack Valley Festival, and is now known as the Massachusetts Spring Ring. Massachusetts is part of Area1/Handbell Musicians of America, which also includes the other New England states.   The Bells of St. Matthew’s frequently attends these Spring Rings, which have been held at the Tewksbury Memorial High School, Tewksbury MA for the past 20 years.

Spring ring 2019

 

 

Last updated September 2022

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