Is It Time for the Bell?

By John Zavitz

In December, wherever you may be, there seems to be a special yearning for the sound of bells. That heavily draped figure that appears on many a Christmas card beneath a lamppost with bell lifted high is a harbinger of good cheer.

That Victorian creature is a far cry, however, from the serried ranks of handbell enthusiasts strung across the loft or sanctuary and ringing their merry peals on a Sunday morning. Such is their dedication that handbell ringers, both large and small, spend hours in concentrated practice to lift our spirits heavenward.

This is not dull drudgery. It is the kind of merry-making that inspires and rewards the participants. As such, English handbell ringing is one of the fastest-growing activities in churches around the country.

Over this growth can be seen the guiding hand of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR). With headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, the group publishes Overtones, a bimonthly resource for any and all problem solving, whether a prospective ringing choir or an old hand is looking for new ideas and techniques.

Obviously, then, getting started is no obstacle to fear. Both manufacturers and AGEHR are anxious to help with both start-up and continuity. Fundraising programs, at no additional cost, are available and effective. Church members are not slow to respond to the sound of handbells.

Uniting is what handbell ringing does best. Ringers have to learn to work together. If there's an individual--a real individual who doesn't blend in well with the crowd--this may be just the right program to start. It simply isn't rewarding to play your notes at the wrong time on the wrong beat and create chaos. If your assignment is to play a C bell on the third beat of measure 26, then anything else is unacceptable.

Travel possibilities are another plus. Festivals and ringing programs abound. A bell choir will use almost any excuse to load up the bells and take off. They play at retirement homes, concerts, athletic events and yes, even in church. For young and old alike, the art of handbell ringing is a sharing proposition. One participant tells of being on both sides of the table at various times as ringer and conductor.

There remains yet another aspect of the handbell ringing fraternity. How do you go about getting the unchurched in the front door? An invitation to join the handbell choir doesn't have to include a commitment to attend worship. However, the other ringers will--by virtue of their need to survive--be a strong persuasion to show up when playing is scheduled at morning worship.

The art of handbell ringing is growing so rapidly that new techniques are introduced almost before the old ones have been digested. The use of mallets to create a percussive sound and the plucking of clappers add to the versatility of the bells. There are also tone chimes, ideal for young children or elderly members not strong enough to hold the heavier cast bells.

English handbell ringing is not only a challenge, it is a warm and invigorating activity offering long-lasting rewards. Henry Longfellow caught the idea:

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

John Zavitz is Director of Music at John Knox Presbyterian Church, Marietta, Ga. He holds a degree in Church Music from Houghton College in New York and has been directing and teaching in this field for over 40 years.