In November 1989 Carol Alexander, Music Director at Good Shepherd, purchased a three octave set of Whitechapel handbells for the Parish in memory of her daughter, Susan Hope Alexander. The bells received extensive use during Ms. Alexander’s tenure and were then stored and saw little use.

Bells of Hope at COGS

In 2014 Pat and Carol Cates joined Good Shepherd. Pat had previously directed handbells at First Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia. Soon after they joined they organized a handbell choir. Through word of mouth and announcements in the bulletin a group of ringers assembled and began rehearsals. Most of the group had never rung handbells before, but all were excited to learn. One of the first tasks of the group was to select a name. Bells of Hope was chosen in honor of Carol Alexander’s daughter. Soon the Bells of Hope were ringing in worship and new ringers continued to be added to the group as the excitement of hearing the handbells was heard throughout the Sanctuary. In 2015 the first Carol Sing was held, and it was an immediate success. There were handbell selections and many carols were sung. In addition, there were other musicians (trumpet and percussion) and organist, Bob Shone.

Bells of Hope in the Community

The Bells of Hope have continued to add handbells to their set. Whitechapel handbells are manufactured in England, and it was sometimes a challenge to get new bells as the factory is having financial difficulties. An additional octave of the higher handbells has been added. A G7 was purchased in honor of Judy Warner’s service on the Vestry, and our lowest handbell, the G3, was purchased in memory of Eddie Love, a ringer with the group for several years. As the group became more experienced there were opportunities for ringing outside the church. The Bells of Hope have been part of Christmas concerts at the Dunedin Community Center and Edgewater Arms. A concert was held at Mease Manor in addition to ringing for the Athenian Academy in Clearwater.

The Bells of Hope continue to enhance the worship at Good Shepherd even during the pandemic. Ringers from the local United Methodist, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches have rung with us during the Christmas and Easter seasons. Organist Bob Moncrief played with the group on a number of occasions and current organist, Tom Huffman, is continuing that tradition.

The organ is of classical design with 20 ranks (sets of pipes), and tracker (mechanical) key action and electric stop action. A total of 980 pipes are arranged in 20 ranks.

Installed 1983

20 ranks; 16 speaking stops
Adjustable Combination Action
Swell 3, Great 3, Pedal 3
General 5 with pedal duplicates
Balanced Swell Expression Pedal
Zimbelstern

GREAT
8’                      Principal                56 pipes
8’                      Gedackt                  56 pipes
4’                      Octave                    56 pipes
2’                      Holflöte                  56 pipes
II ranks            Sesquialter (TC)    88 pipes
III-IV ranks     Mixture                 212 pipes
8’                      Trompete               56 pipes
Swell to Great

SWELL
8’                     Gemshorn               56 pipes
4’                     Koppelflöte             56 pipes
2’                     Principal                  56 pipes
1 1/3               Quint                        56 pipes
8’                     Cromorne                56 pipes
Tremolo

PEDAL
16’                   Subbass                    30 pipes
8’                     Offenbass                 30 pipes
4’                     Choralbass               30 pipes
16’                   Holz Posaune          30 pipes
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal

Carol S. Alexander (1980-2005)
Kenneth Godwin, Jr. (2006)
Justin Havard (2006-2007)
Lynn Vera (2006-2008)
Mario Cianflone (2008)
Robert C. Shone (2008-2017)
Robert Moncrief (2017-2021)
Thomas D. Huffman (2021- )