Typical of the other handbell choirs in the western Wake area, the Woodhaven Ringers, directed by Jim Costilow, celebrate the holidays at Woodhaven Baptist Church, 4000 Kildare Farm Road in Apex. "It's an instrument in pieces," Costilow said as he explained handbells to the congregation at a recent Sunday concert.

Handbells originated in 16th-century England, as sextons sought to escape frigid church bell towers when practicing their change ringing. Handbells matching the notes in the belfries allowed practice at home or in the village pub. When English colonists came to the New World, they brought handbells with them.

The Woodhaven handbell choir was created by Costilow, a ringer since seventh grade, to play as members of the church gathered for the 1990 Christmas Eve service. Rung with borrowed bells, the performance left worshipers stunned, and a donation was quickly made so the church could buy two octaves of handbells.

Later, Costilow said, "money just started appearing" to buy more bells. The choir now performs with five octaves of bells and four of chimes, rung by 16 members ranging from seventh-graders to adults.

When Woodhaven's handbell choir began, it was incredibly popular among churchgoers, so much so that Costilow, immediately elected director of the choir, had to put together four choirs to accommodate all volunteers. With so many choirs, there were 15 handbell performances the first year.

Woodhaven's handbell choirs participate in multi-choir events. At the 2012 North Carolina Adult Handbell Festival, the Woodhaven Ringers will join many other North Carolina choirs to assemble 300 ringers.

Ringers are given assignments based on skill and physical ability, because bells can vary in size and weight. However, ringers rotate between many different bells in different octaves in an effort to make the music more fun, promote growth in the ringers' abilities and to encourage cross-training. While Woodhaven's smaller bells traditionally are bronze, the larger ones are aluminum, making them easier to handle.

One of the main reasons handbells are so well-liked is that Costilow's goal is to make them as accessible as possible. "Handbells should permit almost anyone in a church to become actively involved in the worship service," he said.

Woodhaven's handbell music is also color-coded so ringers don't have to be able to read music.

When asked what skills a prospective ringer must possess, Costilow said, "If you can tell warm colors from cool and can count to four, you qualify!"