Our Instruments

C3 in memory of Kristen Prince by Steve, Karen, Suzanne, and Andrew Prince

On June 9, 1996, twenty-four Schulmerich Handbells, C3 to B3, and C#7 to C8 were dedicated during the first public concert of the Handbell Choirs of First Church of Bethlehem.

C#3 in memory of Evelyn Davis by Mahlon, Janet, and Ray Lynn

E3 in memory of Isabel & Floyd Nichols and Stephen Brittain by Frank and Gladys Nichols

F3 in memory of Salvatore Devine by loving family

G3 given by the Handbell Choirs of First Church of Bethlehem

G#3 in memory of Samuel & Mildred Swendsen and Arthur & Ethel Colsson by Sam and Dorothy Swendsen

A3 in honor of Steve Miller and Family by Lesley Waldron and Anna Nelmes

B3 in memory of Harold Hungerford by Fern Hungerford

C#7 in memory of Richard Lincoln Ruppel, Jr. by Donald Ruppel and family

D7 in memory of Judy Litchfield by Katharine Alexander and family

D#7 in memory of Marcus Ruffalo by John, Jane, Rachel, Lucinda, and Claire Pittari

E7 and F7 in memory of Evelyn Bowie Smith by Janice Benson

F#7 in memory of Herbert Goodwin by Shirley Goodwin

G7 in memory of Edna Munford Johnson by Carol Johnson Springmeyer and family

G#7 given by Mr. & Mrs. Linton Simerl

A7 in memory of Henry & Julia Kröger by Ruth Raymond, Barbara Roberts, Audrey Ruccio, and Elizabeth Curtis

A#7 in memory of Marion & George Brencher by Dave Brencher and family

B7 in memory of Mom, Pop, and Brother Bill by Julia Baysinger

C8 in memory of Lucille Hall Wood by Rick, Sandy, Ben, and Sam Wood

D3, D#3, F#3, and A#3 given by gifts from The Argall Hull Fund, The Memorial Fund of First Church, and the Women’s Fellowship of First Church, and a gift in memory of Evelyn A. Davis by Doris Panteli

On May 4, 1997, three octaves of handchimes, C4 to C7, were dedicated in memory of H. Richard Dolbey, Concepcion Estevez, The Reverend Francis C. Hawes, Janet Marsden, George Penso, Lois Richards, Charles F. Woodward, Charles Simonson, Sr. and Andrew Manchester, and in honor of Dave and Dawn Nichols, and Thelma Leora Hawes.

The fourth octave of handchimes, G3 to B3 and C#7 to G7 were dedicated on June 7, 1998 in memory of Ella C. Box, Stephen M. Brittain, John C. Dauch, Pauline Belle, Ken & Alice Hudson, Frank Markitan, Anthony & Amelia Scinto, Mrs. Jennie Biros, and Lourdes Kirbach, and in honor of the Music of the First Church Handbell Choirs, and in honor of the First Church Handbell Choirs’ support of the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

In October of 1998, the fifth octave of hand chimes, C3 - F#3 and G#7 to C8 were purchased with general donations.

At the Ashlar Village Concert in March 1999, a new D8 handbell was dedicated in honor of Dorothy Anderson as The Messengers played for her one of her favorite tunes, “Forgotten Dreams” by Leroy Anderson, using the D8.

In 1999, the Handbell Choirs purchased three sets of two octaves of Boomwhackers. The purchase was made directly from Craig Ramsell, the MIT graduate inventor of these tuned plastic tubes and founder of Whacky Music, Inc.

At the 1999 Area 1 Handbell Festival, The Messengers entered the arena playing Capriccio, a level 5 Bronze handbell piece, by Kevin McChesney. However, they were not using handbells. They were performing it using Boomwhackers in a conga-line striking the Boomwhackers on the hardhat of the next person ahead in line.

Even 20 years later, ringers at Festival identify director, Rick Wood, as the "Boomwhacker Guy".

Five bass bells, G2 to B2 were dedicated at the Annual Handbell Concert on June 10, 2001.

The handbells were given in honor of Jan Benson, Nancy Brencher, John & Martha Carlson, Virginia Jackson, Ashley Nichols, Ruth Raymond, Curtis L. and Josephine C. Wood, and Rick Wood,and in memory of Dorothy Anderson, Rena Bate, Pauline Belle, Stephen Brittain, Raymond Gallagher, Harold Hoss, Zip Meister, George, Helen, & Tony Penso, Scinto family members, Fred Taylor, Winfred Tibbals, John Philip Urfer, and Lucille Hall Wood.

An Octave of Bass Chimes, C2 - B2, were dedicated on June 8, 2008 at the Annual Bells & Berries Handbell Concert.

Chimes were given in memory of Dorothy Swendsen and Walter Schulze and in Honor of Julia Baysinger’s 100th birthday.

Three octaves of hand chimes were added to the collection through a grant from Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation and contributions from ringers and friends.