Pilgrim loves and appreciates music, believing it is essential to spiritual expression. Music is central in all our worship services.
- Sing traditional hymns and spirituals
- Listen to choral anthems
- Experience classical, jazz, and gospel music
We invite you to participate –join the choir, the handbells, offer your talents for a special performance, or raise your voice in song during Sunday worship.
The Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir is the cornerstone of Pilgrim Church’s music ministry. Members include volunteers with all levels of musical training who love to sing and are 13 years or older. Repertoire spans from the sixteenth century to music written last year. The choir sings most Sundays from September through June. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. New choir members are always welcome!
Special Music Sundays feature larger choral works or several anthems. The Chancel Choir leads these worship services that often include guest vocalists or instrumentalists. Interested in singing occasionally? Pilgrim offers opportunities to sing with the Chancel Choir or other vocal ensemble on special occasions. Contact our Director of Music for more information about our choir.
The Handbell Choir
The Handbell Choir is comprised of volunteers with all levels of musical training and all ages. Repertoire is more familiar pieces that are easy to moderate on the handbell playing scale. The choir performs one Sunday a month from September through June. They also participate in the Special Music Sundays where several anthems are played. Rehearsals are on Sundays at 11:45 AM. New members are always welcome!
Children’s Music Programs
Music is integrated into the elementary and middle Church School curriculum, making participation in a children’s choir accessible to families with busy schedules. At Pilgrim music, worship, and religious education are all inter-connected parts of spiritual development.
Children and youth are encouraged to share their musical talent in worship by playing the prelude, postlude, offertory, or other special music.
The Organ
The organ at Pilgrim Church is a Hook & Hastings Organ. Built in 1897, it was originally installed at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church in Webster, Mass. until 1971, when the church closed. The Andover Organ Company owned the organ until the instrument was purchased by Pilgrim Church in 1973. The organ has two manuals, pedal with sixteen stops, and 19 ranks of pipes – roughly 1,028 pipes in total. This splendid instrument perfectly fits the excellent acoustic space of Pilgrim’s sanctuary. To experience this beautiful instrument, watch the videos below.
