John Neve
Director of Handbell Ministries
John Neve comes from Vinton, Iowa, where he was raised and educated. He received his degrees from the University of Dubuque (Iowa), and it was there that he began his musical conducting experience by directing church choirs and the University’s Male Glee Club. He began his full-time Ministry of Music at a Presbyterian church in Chicago, and then moved to the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, where he served First United Methodist Church for 15 years. While living in the Chicago area he was a professional member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. In 1984 he moved to Tucson with his wife, Jane, and two teenagers, David and Beth, where he accepted the position of Minister of Music at Catalina United Methodist Church, serving there for 19 years, and retiring from there in 2003.
John was consecrated as a Diaconal Minister of Music by the United Methodist Church in 1978, and has served on several national boards of the Church. He helped put together the United Methodist Hymnal (1989), and also the supplement, The Faith We Sing (2000). He has conducted handbell choirs in each of the three churches he served during the 40+ years of his career. In his “retirement” he became the Director of Handbell Ministries at Christ Church UM in 2008 after playing in the handbell choir for 3 years. Handbells and handchimes are a passion of his, along with singing in the Chancel Choir. He directs The Christ Church Ringers Handbell Choir.
John and Jane joined Christ Church UM in 2009. They have 3 grandchildren, Kemper and Kelton Neve, and Levi Stahl.
