I posted a few weeks ago about English handbells in Latter-day Saint sacrament meetings. I have had a few conversations and questions about handbells, both before and since then, that are worth addressing over the course of a few posts. This first one is connected to both the previous post and a Reddit question I stumbled across afterwards.
Do any wards own handbells?
As far as I know, no wards own handbells. In every case I’m aware of, handbell performances in sacrament meetings were privately owned or owned by a Protestant Church.
After my last post about handbells, I saw a Reddit discussion where someone posted a picture in r/exmormon and asked, “Help- What is this symbol?” The author of the question attended a ward where they saw some equipment for a handbell performance (tables with covers, music stands, etc.) with the Malmark Bellcraftsman symbol on the table cover in the chapel. The question about the symbol itself was answered very quickly. However, some of them had to think through that they were “90% sure this is not a Mormon or Freemasonry symbol,” leading one commenter to joke, “You know your religion’s a cult when you have to decipher a strange new logo to see if it’s one of your own.”
After the answer, the question’s author said that “It’s quite interesting this church had so many – there were like 8 tables with such table cloths. Maybe a member of another ward is the hand bell camp champ and these are all from their personal collection and not property of the church itself? Who knows?” A response from someone who seems to have experience from Protestant bell ensembles explained, “A handbell choir requires that many tables. … Churches I’ve attended played bells once a month max, because it’s a more intensive music offering than the choir. In the times we weren’t playing, bells were stored away – they’re pretty expensive and probably belong to the ward. After all, you can’t play them alone!” After a link to the product itself and a note that “That’s one expensive table cover,” another commenter said, “I promise these bells and table covers are privately owned. Unless they were purchased with permission from a Q15 by a rich donor. But most of the time ‘extras’ are denied because they have to keep things equal for all the wards and they’re sure as hell not providing handbells to the Rose Park or Taylorsville wards.” In response, the author of the original question noted that in their experience, “All wards are not equal,” and, “This church was in Layton Utah in a fairly wealthy area,” so might have had a set donated to the ward.
The handbell community in Utah is fairly close-knit, so I actually know who this would be, and they are indeed privately owned. The person who owns them was a member of the Bells at Temple Square, but the age limit for the ensemble is fifty. So, when he turned fifty a couple of years ago, he left the ensemble, but dearly missed ringing handbells. A wealthy neighbor and friend saw how much he missed it and bought a full set of bells and equipment to start an ensemble called the Bridgecreek Bells. (I wish I had a friend who was rich enough to do that for me!) Since then, he’s put together groups to play for special events at his church, and those of us in northern Utah who use handbells for sacrament meeting special numbers will often use those exact bells when the performances are north of Salt Lake City.
Handchimes are a closely related instrument that, while still pricey, is more affordable. These are stopped aluminum tubes with tines and a clapper, a bit like an oversized tuning fork. I have heard of a few wards where someone owns these instruments and uses them for music numbers or for music time in Primary. In every case I’m aware of, however, they are privately owned and shared with the church rather than owned by a ward.
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