Thanksgiving Praise Gathering

The Kimball Ministerial Association Thanksgiving Praise Gathering crowd was treated to some beautiful musical selection by the Trinity Methodist Church Bell Choir and the Cornerstone Community Church Quartet.

The Cornerstone Quartet shared "Amazing Grace" while the Bell Choir played several selections, including "Yankee Doodle Medley," religious music and Thanksgiving music.

Since the 1980s, the United Methodist Church has had a bell choir, which was under the director of Harry McNees in the beginning. The bells were purchased by a church member at that time. The bells cover three octaves and they were purchased for about $2,700, but today those brass bells are valued at more than $10,000.

From 11 to 12 members practice once a week and play once a month on Sunday at church under the direction of Chellie Autrey. Each bell ringer is responsible for four bells, two of which are shared. The smaller bells start with the treble cleft and the larger bells play the base cleft. Each person is responsible for two notes as well as a sharp and flat.

For example, according to Chellie Autry, "If it is C#, the person that plays C plays the sharp. If it is written at D flat, the person that plays D will ring it."

Autrey said they love to get out and play in the community. The bell choir recently acquired a set of hand chimes to accompany the bells.