Monroe church finds help in replacing stolen bell

Published: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 12:01 a.m.

For months, church leaders have been raising money to replace the hefty antique brass bell that used to toll for services. The bell was stolen in November and busted up for a quick profit as scrap metal. Police were able to recover some of the pieces but not all.

Nevermind all that now. The church is nearing its fundraising goal for a new bell and tower -- with a little help from a neighboring parish.

On Wednesday night, the Angelus Handbell Choir from Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland played a fundraiser concert at the Monroe church.

Roughly 60 people attended, including Monroe parishioners, handbell fans and neighbors of all faiths, the Rev. Phillip Bloom said.

The concert reminded Monroe church members of the generosity and solidarity they have found in others since the theft, Bloom said.

He credited the Kirkland handbell choir director, Pam Gunderson, for putting it all together.

"I was blown away by what she accomplished with the handbell choir," Bloom said. "This was the first time I'd ever actually attended a concert like that. I did not realize the range and the versatility they had, and the types of sounds they could make with those bells."

The choir also performed a few numbers with two teenage Monroe musicians: violinist Marianne Martinoli and pianist Arielle Howard.

That "really raised the whole musical layer way, way up," Gunderson said. "That was really a nice serendipity that happened."

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Monroe church finds help in replacing stolen bell