The Social Harp and Sacred Harp Singing

No. 3 Railroad Street
Arnoldsville, Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Sunday, February 22, 2026

The 52nd annual session of The Social Harp and Sacred Harp Singing was held on the fourth Sunday in February.
This singing uses The Sacred Harp, 2025 edition, and The Social Harp (1855 facsimile, 2009 reprint), alternating by session.

Michael Spencer brought the class to order leading 335, Return Again.
John Hollingsworth offered the opening prayer.
Michael Spencer welcomed the class and introduced Professor Roger Stahl from the University of Georgia and a group of UGA students who were recording today's singing for a documentary about Southern resilience in the face of increasing extreme weather events. The students requested that we sing some songs that mention storms.

Leaders:
115, Holbrook - David Smead
570, Sleepers Awake! - Bill Hollingsworth
448t, Consecration - Christy Sinksen
464, Sheppard - Esther Morgan-Ellis
34t, The Gospel Pool - Shawn Taylor
108b, The Traveler - Chris Wilhelm
286, Heavenly Home - Mary Baumeister
121, Florence - John Plunkett
65, Sweet Prospect - Bill DuPre
64, Nashville - Shannon Primm
200, Edom - Bill Hogan
216, Delight - Robert Kelley
222, Ocean - Judy Mincey
224, Save, Lord, or We Perish - Lisa Bennett
381, Wells Second - Jane Cannon
515, Rockbridge - Michael Spencer
161, Southminster - David Smead
499t, Pastures Green - Maygan Barker
364, Southwell - Bill Hollingsworth
447, Wondrous Cross - Jane Cannon.

RECESS

For the second session, the class sang from The Social Harp. Leaders:
87, Musgrove - Michael Spencer
52t, Hebbord - Christy Sinksen
98, Weeping Mary - Bill Hogan
199, Birth of Christ - Robert Kelley
103, Mosley - Judy Mincey
155, Wake Up - Esther Morgan-Ellis
184, Heaven Born Soldiers - Mary Baumeister
28, Substantial Joys - John Plunkett
135, The Blooming Wilderness - Lisa Bennett
183, Wilkes - Shannon Primm
179, New Topia - Bill DuPre
31, Mary Blain - Chris Wilhelm
60, Heavenly Meeting - Shawn Taylor
37, The Traveller - David Smead
159, Buonaparte - Jane Cannon
104, Shout for Joy - Christy Sinksen
200, John Adkin's Farewell - Michael Spencer
182, Lisbon - Bill Hollingsworth
192, Alldridge - Bill Hogan
218t, Blackburn - Robert Kelley.

LUNCH

Michael Spencer brought the class back to order leading 289, Greensborough (now from Sacred Harp).
Leaders:
457, Wayfaring Stranger - Maygan Barker
255, Mechanicville - Lisa Bennett
572, The Lamb of God - Shawn Taylor
400, Struggle On - Mary Baumeister and Gwen Ross
469, Thy Strength - John Plunkett
155, Northfield - Bill Hogan
131t, Messiah - Shannon Primm
142, Stratfield - Bill DuPre
130, The Old Graveyard - Christy Sinksen
362, Norwich - Esther Morgan-Ellis
80t, Troubles Over - Judy Mincey
453, Newbury - Robert Kelley.

The class went into a business session and elected the following officers:
Chairman—Michael Spencer; Vice Chairman—Bill Hollingsworth; Secretary—David Smead.
The class voted that next year we will sing from The Sacred Harp in the first session and then alternate with The Social Harp, as we did this year.

Leaders:
370, Monroe - Michael Spencer
223, Balm in Gilead - David Smead
461, John 3:37 - Bill Hogan
178t, Africa - Jane Cannon and Pete Dybdahl
47b, Idumea - Maygan Barker
72t, The Weary Soul - Lisa Bennett
324, North Port - Shawn Taylor
567, The Great Day - Mary Baumeister.

RECESS

Returning to the Social Harp—Leaders:
53, Palms of Victory - Jane Cannon
228, Marion - Esther Morgan-Ellis
198, Rhode Island - Shawn Taylor
51, Coldwater - Shannon Primm
249, Deep Spring - Robert Kelley
154, The Drunkard's Burial - Lisa Bennett
138, Morning Star - Judy Mincey
216, Salutation - David Smead
50, I Want to Go - Christy Sinksen
134, The Harvest Field - John Plunkett
49, Marshfield - Mary Baumeister
152, Benton - Chris Wilhelm.

After announcements, Michael Spencer led 253, Good-By, as the closing song.
Christy Sinksen offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—Michael Spencer; Vice Chairman—Bill Hollingsworth; Secretary—David Smead.