RUMFORD – Some of the older hymns are seldom sung these days in many churches. But on Sept. 19, such 19th century hymns as “In the Garden,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds,” will be among the dozens to be sung by people who love them.

A memorial hymn sing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Locke Mills Union Church. The event is a combined effort of the Locke Mills church and its sister church, the Rumford Point Congregational Church. Hymns are chosen by present and past church members, and some will be in honor of those who have passed on.

To make a request, members or past members make a donation to either church. Members from both churches, as well as anyone else in the community, are expected to turn out for the first hymn sing of its kind in the area.

“I’m hoping it will bring a few more people back into the church,” said Barbara Ferguson, deacon of the Rumford Point Congregational Church. She and Locke Mills church member, Beverly Melville, are spearheading the effort.

Already, dozens of requests have come in, and the choirs of both churches are working on performing medleys between individual requests.

Like many small, rural churches, the two are struggling. They have a new pastor and a committed core of people. But both churches are in need of some major repairs as well as routine maintenance. Funds raised from the hymn sing will go toward these needs.

Ferguson said notices of the hymn sing went out to more than 250 current and past members of the two churches. A few dozen have come back.

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erty valuation. It is the same rate as last year.

One of them was from a 96-year-old woman who once spent summers in Hanover and now lives in a nursing home in New York.

“She said she couldn’t be here with us, but she’ll be here in spirit. We’ll dedicate a hymn to her,” said Ferguson.

The program will list the names of the people being remembered, the sponsors and the chosen hymns. Those who have indicated interest in the memorial hymn sing but can’t attend will receive a printed memorial listing in a follow-up church newsletter.

“This hymn sing will make people aware that we are still active,” said Ferguson.