The Bulfinch Meetinghouse is proud to announce a special holiday concert “With Bells On!” on Saturday, December 13 at 7 PM featuring the beautiful sounds of The Pilgrim Bell Choir of Southborough and the phenomenal talent of America’s Got Talent finalist, Lavender Darcangelo.
This family-friendly concert, set to be a highlight of the winter season, marks the public launch of a fundraising initiative dedicated to the restoration of the sanctuary of the historic Bulfinch Meetinghouse in time for the town’s momentous 375th anniversary in 2028. This concert will be a great winter night out for the entire family, with tickets priced at $20 and kids under 12 admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance on the church’s website, FirstChurchLancasterMA.org (see ticket link below)
The Bulfinch Meetinghouse, designed by renowned American architect Charles Bulfinch in 1816, is more than just a historic building—it is a cherished community asset and a defining element of North Worcester County’s shared heritage. Its magnificent sanctuary is an iconic landmark utilized by many local groups. In 2009, the meetinghouse steeple and housing for its Revere Bell was restored, and now it’s time to begin restoring the ornate meetinghouse sanctuary interior.
Leominster resident Lavender Darcangelo began singing at the age of three before she could even talk. As a person living with both blindness as well as autism, she straddles the worlds of two disabilities. In 2010, she joined a new afterschool mentorship program called the Tribe founded by Wil Darcangelo who, with his husband Jamie, would become her adoptive fathers in 2017. Even though her autism sometimes makes public performance a challenge, she knows that music is her love language. And she frequently uses music to express her love for her family and her fiancé, Brian LeDuc. Lavender went viral in 2019 from a video of her performance of the song “Part of Your World” from the Disney film The Little Mermaid and appeared in news media worldwide. This began her eventual journey to the America’s Got Talent stage where received the coveted golden buzzer from judge Heidi Klum and made it all the way to the finals of season 18. She is currently recording her debut album entitled Mosaic.
For more than 40 years, the Pilgrim Bell Choir has filled the sanctuary of Pilgrim Church in Southborough with the shimmering sound of handbells. Performing monthly during worship services, this dedicated ensemble has become a cherished part of the church’s musical life and community spirit.
Under the direction of Carla Mason, who has led the group since 2001 after directing the bell choir at First Church Marlborough, the ensemble has flourished both in skill and size. The group’s 11 committed ringers—joined by several guest musicians—perform an exciting mix of sacred and secular pieces, continually pushing themselves to master more challenging works. Their passion for the art of handbell ringing has even taken them beyond the church walls, from regional Area 1 Handbell Conferences to a handbell workshop on an Alaskan cruise this past summer.
Playing handbells is no ordinary musical feat. Unlike wind, string, or keyboard players who see and play every note, handbell ringers are responsible for just two tones—plus any sharps or flats—and must strike precisely on cue. This unique challenge transforms music-making into a beautifully coordinated team effort, one that has inspired countless musicians to discover the joy (and fun!) of ringing.
This year marks an exciting new chapter for the Pilgrim Bells. Thanks to a generous bequest and matching donations from current and former members, the choir recently acquired a brand-new five-octave set of handbells and handchimes, replacing instruments estimated to be nearly 70 years old. The difference is remarkable—the sound is bright, resonant, and full of life.
To celebrate, the group hosted a dedication concert featuring a crowd-pleasing lineup of popular hits including Dancing Queen, Viva La Vida, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. It was a joyful celebration of music, community, and the enduring spirit of the Pilgrim Bell Choir—a group that continues to prove, year after year, that harmony and heart can ring loud and clear.
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