Bell
Ringing.... Bell
Ringing....
St. Andrew's Church has eight bells, the tenor being the heaviest and weighing nearly a ton. Six bells were installed in 1884 and these were made incorporating metal from three earlier bells. Two more bells were added in 1924 which made a ring of eight. There have been bells in the church since the 14th century - an old beam in the south of the church has holes through which the ropes used to pass. When the tower was added in 1530 presumably the bells were removed to the west end and would have been rung from a floor half way up the tower. They are now rung from the ground floor. The bells have a very fine tone and produce a mellifluous sound, tuned to the key of E (687Hz).
No major work had been done to the bells throughout the twentieth century until in 1995 it was decided to fund a full restoration and re-tuning. £25,000 was raised for this purpose and the bells were removed and returned to the bell founder who made then in 1884 - John Taylor of Loughborough. They were re-tuned and rehung with all new fittings and are now in excellent order for the 21st century.
We have a team of ten ringers, most of whom have learnt in the last 5 years. The bells are rung for Sunday services, weddings, special occasions and sometimes, half-muffled, at funerals. The practices are held on Mondays, one week in the afternoon and the following week in the evening. First of all ringers learn to ring rounds - all the bells following each other in sequence ringing down the diatonic scale. Next, ringers endeavour to master the art of change ringing. This was evolved in England in the 17th century and the order in which the bells sound is altered to give different sequences or "changes". This is done to a pre-set pattern or method and each ringer must learn the method in order to know when to sound his or her bell. It takes a little longer to master this art and the skill lies in being able to control a bell that rotates full circle high above in the belfry, using a rope attached to a wheel.
It is a very rewarding pastime - once you have learned the basics you will be welcome when you visit other towers. there are more than 5,000 church towers with bells suitable for change ringing in England. you can begin at about the age of 11 and ring for the rest of your life - why not try ?
Come along when you hear the bells ring and find out what it is all about. it is the only musical "instrument" that is rung solely to the glory of God and new ringers are always welcome.
Jeanne Webb (Tower Captain)
01984 640267
Links:-
The Ringing World (Magazine)