Ringing Festival

It is a year since we started ringing in our own tower. NM organised a Ringing Festival to celebrate our anniversary and to raise funds for our neighbouring tower's peal appeal fund. There were four local towers open for ringing so that visitors could take them all in.

The Festival started last night when we invited 10 ringers to represent the local towers, that have been our teachers and supporters on our ringing journey, to have the honour to ring the first quarter peal on our 10 bells. Much to our surprise these very experienced ringers were rather nervous before they started. We were sent out of the tower and the door was locked so that they would not be disturbed. 48 minutes later they had successfully completed the first quarter peal. There were a few other first too. For two of the ringers it was their first QP on ten bells and for the conductor it was the first time he had rung this method as well obviously the first time he had conducted it too.

Cakes were provided to celebrate but the accompanying fizz was rejected in favour of real ale in the pub afterwards.

Then this morning we invited the Master of the Chester Guild of Church Bellringers to put together a band to ring the second QP on ten bells. This photograph shows that band after they had successfully completed their peal.

It was a quick trip home before we had to head back down to the tower for open ringing. We had no idea if any ringers would turn up. We should have known better. Before long the tower was full with eager ringers and for just over 90 minutes various methods, call changes and rounds were rung. The ringing was of a very good standard and our visitors were  very complimentary about our bells.

Tomorrow we will ring as usual in the morning before another open session in the afternoon. We have invited back a band of ringers from Bollington to ring another peal. 8 of our bells came from their church when it closed. Following this final peal attempt there will be a short service in the church to bring our Festival of Ringing to an end.