The Adult Choir at First United Methodist Church was named the Chancel Choir in the late 1950s. During that time it was made up of adults and college-age singers. According to the Caller of June-July 1957, “the primary purpose of the Chancel Choir is to sing music with all its power, beauty and truth for the glory of God, music that has a real spiritual message for all those who hear.”

Through the years, the choir has had a number of directors and the music genres have expanded to include not only sacred music but also contemporary and international music as the congregation has become more multicultural.

The Chancel Choir has sung in a number of national and international events and places.  They have sung at Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame Cathedral in France, the American Church in Paris, France; Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France; the Amalfi Coast in Italy. In the US the Chancel Choir sang at the Crystal Cathedral, California; Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California, and at  a retirement home in Honolulu, Hawaii.  They have sung at the Service of Ordination for the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference held at Washington National Cathedral, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC and at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, MD.  They have also sung at the Terrace Theatre at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. This is not an exhaustive list as they have sung at many other events nationally.

The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursdays (as it has since the 1950s) at 7 p.m. and sings on the first and third Sundays at both the 8:30am and 11a.m. services.

The current music director of the Chancel Choir is Pierrindo (Perry) Palmer. The Choir is always looking for new members so if you have a voice or want to develop your voice or just want to sing praises to God, please call Mr. Palmer on 201-927-6133.

The Chancel Choir