Unlike
the other activities within the
church we are heard but seldom seen. We are delighted
to have the opportunity to describe ourselves
– the bells, ringers and all the various and necessary activities “up
the tower”, from teaching prospective learners how to “handle a bell”, to
regular maintenance of the bells. Tower bell ringing is a tradition dating back
over 400 years.There have been bells at St Peters’ since 1490. We now have eight bells, two having recently been added in 2006. Our tenor (the heaviest bell No.8, with the lowest note) is the oldest, and was cast in 1699. Bells 3 to 7 were recast in 1923/4. We ring to summon parishioners to worship at Church Services, and to celebrate special Festivals e.g. Christmas and New Year, for national events e.g. Remembrance Sunday, plus “local” ringing for Weddings etc.
Tuesday evening is our regular Practice/Teaching night.
We are members and on the Committee of the North Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell-ringers, plus the national Central Council (CCCBR).
The ringers pay a very small annual subscription and continue to donate their wedding fees to the belfry repair fund. This fund pays for all necessary "belfry" work, including, over the years, welding to a comer of the frame, new wheels, a new ceiling for the ringing room and occasional sets of new ropes. We also installed a degree of soundproofing up the Tower behind the window arches.
This area is popular for visiting teams' outings with a number of picturesque villages, ringeable bells and short distances to travel between churches.
St Peter's church is known for its well maintained bells, good quality ringing and since augmenting to eight bells we attract even more visitors to Tuesday practice nights. However, so far, this has not helped to increase the number of local Sunday Service local ringers.
Pat Albon has set up a SIMULATOR in the Tower, an aid to teaching beginners and improvers, but nowadays it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit local youngsters to learn the art.
We are always eager to welcome new
learners, plus of course those who can already ring. Ringers can be of any age,
from about 10 yrs upwards (depending on size), to octogenarians! One does
not have to be “musical”, and it is not a matter of brute force – we rely
on rhythm and delicacy of touch.
Please contact our Tower Captain Patrick Albon (Tel: 782251) or Judy Anderson (Tel: 781783) for details, and/or to view the ringing.
Now Explore the following further pages about our Bells and Ringing:
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a) The Tower: |
A look at the layout and contents of St. Peter's Church Tower |
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b) The Ringers: |
Introducing our current band and their activities. |
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Details of the Tower Captains and past notable ringers |
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Change Ringing - Methods - Peals and Quarter Peals - Advice and Striking Contests |
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e) History: |
A history of the tower and bells by Chris Pickford, Judy Anderson & Pat Albon |
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f) Stop Press: |
Latest news, notices and pictures of events. |
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Sources for all pages:
Chris Pickford (Personal Communication) - History of Sharnbrook bells and bell ringers.
Richard Forder (Personal Notes - 2007)
Inspection of Sharnbrook Bells (C J P ), 1978
Records of the Bedfordshire Association of Bellringers, 1882-1982 (CR0: X529)
T North, Church Bells of Bedfordshire (1883)
Sharnbrook glebe terrier, 1822 (CR0: FAC 35/11)
Files of the Bedfordshire Mercury, especially 1881-1887
Manuscript recollections of E P Duffield, written at the request of C J P 1981
St John Cooper Mss, British Library, London (Add Mss 34366, and 34373 f 27d)
'The Ringing World' No 4995 January 19th. 2007.