Here at St Mary’s we are fortunate to have a magnificent ring of eight bells, cast in 1901 by Taylor’s Bell Foundry of Loughborough.
The bells form an octave tuned to D flat and the heaviest, known as the tenor, is an impressive 32½ hundred weight; that’s 1651kgs, or over 1.6 tons. According to R. H. Dove’s Guide to the Church Bells of Britain, ours is the fifth heaviest ring of eight in the British Isles, with only Adelaide Cathedral out-weighing us in the rest of the world.
There is regular ringing before the 11 a.m. Sunday service, when the small local band is often augmented by visitors from other towers around the country. With the help of other local bands, we also hold occasional practice nights on Monday evenings.
Bellringing is a fascinating and truly unique hobby. It enables you to develop new skills, take part in a centuries-old tradition, and meet new people, as well as offering gentle physical and mental exercise.
We always welcome new recruits. If you are interested in finding out more, contact Peter Gardener via 015394 34512