St James’ Church – Bells and Ringers
Every Sunday St James’ bells ring out from 9:30am, to herald the Parish Eucharist. They also ring for weddings, occasionally funerals, special services, festivals, and sometimes just for fun! The ringers meet every week to practice at about 7:30pm on Thursday evenings.
St. James is fortunate to have a peal of 8 bells in F (Tenor 11cwt, 3 qtrs, and 7 pounds). The bells were originally cast by Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel and hung in 1875. Re-hung and re-tuned in 1989, St James’ has one of the nicer peals to both ring and listen to in the diocese. A sound control system allows the ringers to reduce the volume significantly for practices and other non-service ringing.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be either musical or have enormous biceps to be a bellringer, or campanologist as ringers are known. The bells are rung by a band of about a dozen people ranging from school-age up to post retirement – the group has had ringers aged 10 to 100. Anyone is welcome to try ringing. The group also welcomes any ringers who would like to visit, either individually to a practice or service ring, or as part of a band on an outing or for a peal. The group has a good social life as well!
For further information please contact either the Tower Secretary/Captain Linda Strange on 01932 830947.
A Belfry Prayer
Grant, O Lord, we pray, that those who are appointed to ring the bells of this house of prayer may do it worthily and to your glory; and that those who shall be called by the ringing of these bells to worship you may enter into your gates with thanksgiving and into your courts with praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
