Ringing news

President’s Blog #26

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 07:24:39 +0000

I am currently working with a Dutch colleague whose family lives in Perth, Western Australia. Imagine our mutual surprise when he joined a Teams call from his local bar and it turned out he was in the Lucky Shag, the bar next to the Swan Tower and its ring of 16 bells. Explaining why I had, on more than one occasion, flown halfway round the world to visit that building and that pub was difficult – I may have spent equal time in both – but we soon found common ground dishing Victoria Bitter. On my last visit too long ago, the tower was a relatively isolated and dramatic feature of the Perth waterfront – now it is surrounded by tall buildings with rather less impact. Still pretty cool though.

The Cast of 1000 initiative, which in its virtual phase comprises focused Ringing Room practices for those wanting to learn and develop Surprise Major ringing, has now had 25 practices and its 100th participant. So far, all the practices have had the right people at them at the right time and in the right place knowing the right methods, thanks to the efforts of Stephanie Warboys and an absolute beast of a spreadsheet. We are starting to get people just asking to join the initiative either as helper or beneficiary, and we seem to have enough willing helpers to meet demand. More details can be found here.

Last Saturday I went to two Cast practices, rang a ‘Simons’ handbell quarter peal in between, spent two hours practising for said handbell quarter in the morning (I am the weakest link), ran the Brumdingers RR session, and met up with Vancouver ringers in the evening. It felt like a Saturday from before the pandemic with no time for proper meals or seeing my family. A couple of other people were fitting in Cast of 1000 practices amongst other practices and ringing events. And the quarter was Simon Rudd’s 200th quarter on Ringing Room. Yes, take a moment to let that sink in. Over a fifth of all quarters on Ringing Room have had Simon in.

Nearly a quarter of all the quarter peals on Ringing Room have been in the last month. What do we infer from that? More bands are using it (5,000 accounts have accessed in the last 30 days), more ringers have progressed to the level of expertise that enables them to ring quarters, more people have worked out how to use ethernet connections, or some bands have finally managed to score quarters they have been attempting for ages. It could also be that the server upgrades that have been implemented in the last month have had such a positive impact that computer problems are less of a success factor. Soon you won’t be able to blame t’interweb – it may just be you.

Ding also continues to prosper and add users and bands. The key difference with Ding is that it set out to be much more of a simulation of ropesight – the key press starts the rope moving rather than giving the immediate sound. This makes it much more of a challenge (more like ringing in that respect) but quarter peals are now being rung with the moving ropes. Ding also now has 16 bells, so if you project your screen onto your living room walls, as creator Giles Wood has done, you can replicate the look of amazement we get on visitors faces when they come into the ringing room at the Bull Ring. It’s a lot of ropes. Giles is also looking for people with Virtual Reality headsets to test an experimental version of Ding – if that’s you then please email gilesrwood@gmail.com

One is clutching at straws looking for the benefits to ringing of this pandemic, but one is the opportunity to ring with people you might not otherwise meet. Last Monday I was able to zoom up to a Beverley and District practice, specifically as I wanted to meet and ring with Rebecca Legowski and Damien Garwood. They are both blind, with Damien having learned to ring online after being attracted to ringing by hearing his local tower. Discussion with them on Sunday was whether virtual ringing could provide an entry path for blind ringers, both into handbell ringing and tower bell ringing. They were also keen to establish a group for blind ringers, and also build a network of people with experience of teaching blind ringers. I can collect contact details to pass on.

Has anyone managed to persuade any lapsed ringers to come out and do some virtual ringing? Reactivating lapsed ringers needs to be part of a ringing recovery strategy as they don’t take as long to teach (obvs) and there are lots of them – at least as many as there are active ringers. Depending on what caused them to lapse, some virtual ringing to break the boredom of lockdown might be attractive. I have one target who I am going to invite to a Cast of 1000 practice. Has anyone else activated a lapsed ringer in lockdown? LMK [Stop press – I have found one, courtesy of my sister in Skipton!]

When I saw that the Truro DG was preparing for a G7 conference in Cornwall I immediately thought it was a mega Grandsire Triples workshop, with much needed guidance on exactly where to make those pesky calls. However, it turns out that the crowds descending on Carbis Bay in June are not going ringing, but just attending a conference of the G7 leaders. The Truro DG’s PRO Jane McCutchan is working hard and successfully to promote the sounds of Cornish bells being rung to celebrate the arrival of global visitors.

Finally, eBells can seriously upgrade your online ringing experience and are selling like hot cakes. They’re not cheap (despite being not for profit – they’re expensive to make), however sponsorship from The Whiting Society is enabling ART to provide eBells to young ringers (under 25) for £25 a pair. Although the sponsorship is limited, if demand exceeds funds available, we will find the money to support those who want them. Expressions of interest to lesley.belcher@bellringing.org

Simon Linford
President CCCBR

New Mt. Vernon church owner promises to remove scaffolding by year's end

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 18:02:22 +0000

Chiu said his expectation is that people will see signs of exterior repair work ... work will cost, but Olivet is consulting with architects and contractors now to get estimates. He didn't know if there's a working bell in the tower ... slate roof, which has falling tiles, and the bell tower and spire, according to Chiu.

Hear the Old Parkland Bell for the First Time

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 15:56:15 +0000

Old Parkland's owner, Harlan Crow, plans to ring the thing at noon and 6 every day, once the bell tower is finished (right now it's just a concrete core; ...

Sound of Metal Director/Writer Darius Marder Talks Ableism in Filmmaking, Turning Down Robert ...

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 15:33:45 +0000

This scene makes the final scene, with Ruben outside amidst the ringing of church bells, all the more reflective as a commentary that Ruben's journey ...

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:37:09 +0000

Last summer a support collapsed in the tower and one of the smaller bells, which weighs more than 65 pounds, fell and was wedged between another ...

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:30:00 +0000

Eleven, 80-year-old large bronze bells at Lexington Avenue Baptist Church will resonate through town from their now empty bell tower once they're ...

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:30:00 +0000

The sun shines through the empty bell tower at Lexington Avenue Baptist Church. ... can have a big celebration and ring the bells out because they're heard all over town,” said Beverly Durham who has been a member of the church ...

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:30:00 +0000

The sun shines through the empty bell tower at Lexington Avenue Baptist Church. The bells were removed last summer for repair and maintenance ...

Netherlands rocked by third night of protests

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:19:34 +0000

The events resulted in 240 arrests and thousands of fines were handed out for defying the curfew. Earlier on Monday ... [CHURCH BELLS RINGING].

Bell to be rung in Grantham after more than 100000 deaths recorded from coronavirus

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:07:30 +0000

David Braunton, the tower captain at the Grantham church, will ring the tenor bell, half muffled, for 10 minutes from 8pm to pay respects to those who ...

PHOTO: 100 years of Latvia's de jure recognition!

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 12:22:30 +0000

Nearly all churches present in Latvia will ring their bells at 18:00 today – the moment when 100 years ago diplomats found out about Latvia's ...

Latvia marks 100 years of international recognition

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:44:29 +0000

A series of events are taking place to mark the de jure recognition, with the ... At 14:00, President of Latvia Egils Levits and Foreign Minister Edgars ... President of Latvia Egils Levits has also invited all Christian churches of Latvia to join the celebration and ring their bells on 26 January, ... Find out more.

Geneseo demonstrators hope protest is beginning of the end for nuclear weapons

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:15:00 +0000

Churches, including St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Geneseo, also took part in the event by ringing the church bells at noon. “I have been involved ...

Darrell Salk, son of polio vaccine creator Jonas Salk, gets COVID-19 vaccine in Seattle

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 01:30:00 +0000

(KOMO) – The son of arguably the best known vaccine creator in the ... “When the polio vaccine came out there were people who were concerned, just like ... around it, all of the church bells ringing and people dancing in the streets.

TriCon Church participates in Nationwide Church Bell Ringing

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 23:32:40 +0000

Trinitarian Congregational Church participated in Nationwide Church Bell Ringing during a Moment of Remembrance for all Lives Lost to COVID-19 ...

TriCon Church participates in Nationwide Church Bell Ringing

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 23:32:40 +0000

Trinitarian Congregational Church participated in Nationwide Church Bell Ringing during a Moment of Remembrance for all Lives Lost to COVID-19 ...

It's time to stop playing Jenga with the economy and the country

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 21:33:45 +0000

If the word doesn't immediately ring a bell, the next image likely will. A table tower of stacked pieces of wood stands. Players take turns removing a ...

Laramie church rings bells for 400 seconds to remember 400000 who have died of COVID-19

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 20:26:15 +0000

Now 80, his age does not keep him from scaling narrow metal ladders inside the 118-foot-tall clock tower. On Tuesday, Williamson made the climb for a ...

Laramie church rings bells for 400 seconds to remember 400000 who have died of COVID-19

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 19:30:00 +0000

The new president asked churches to ring their bells, Americans to put ... From the clock room, Williamson can look out slit windows towards the ...

117 Queenslanders celebrated in 2021 Australia Day Honours

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 11:03:45 +0000

117 Queenslanders celebrated in 2021 Australia Day Honours ... “They are Queenslanders who have advocated on behalf of our veterans, ... Mrs Judith Ann BELL, Clayfield, for significant service to the administration of justice, to the visual arts, and to education. ... Help us keep up the good work Why?

Sugar Grove church celebrates 200th anniversary

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 04:52:30 +0000

The church held fund-raisers toward the purchase of a bell, according to the History. One of those involved the men of the church preparing a ...

Editorial: Monday Shorts: Vaccinations begin

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 20:48:45 +0000

It's worth celebrating: The news about COVID-19 is no longer just about testing. Now, it has moved on to vaccination clinics, the first of which is up and ... The bell tower is still extant in churches of a certain age and even today, church ...

'England vs America': The friendly war that unites a Tokelau atoll

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 20:03:45 +0000

... over Nukunonu, the roosters were crowing, and the church bells were ringing. ... Every holiday season, the people of Tokelau come together for a ... The women and men of each team will sing and dance as the game plays out.

Former home of historic Whitechapel business which made bells of Big Ben may be turned into hotel

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 15:56:15 +0000

It's fair to say The Whitechapel Bell Foundry on Whitechapel Road, Tower Hamlets is a historic business. The company is 450 years old and, ...

French Told They Must Accept Noisy Church Bells, Cockerels, Tractors–New Government Law

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:52:30 +0000

French Told They Must Accept Noisy Church Bells, Cockerels, ... Haut-Rhin wrote to the mayor to complain about the bell ringing which took place ... it to a referendum and 70% of the 427 residents eligible to vote, turned out–77% ...

Church of the Week: Brandon House of Worship

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:17:01 +0000

The church also has a bell tower above the second story which we ring 10 times every Sunday to announce our 10 a.m. service. What faith does it serve ...

Church of the Week: Brandon House of Worship

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:17:01 +0000

By the way these stained glass windows are priceless and look magnificent. The church also has a bell tower above the second story which we ring 10 ...

Bell Tower Music Suspended Until Policy in Place

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 12:11:15 +0000

The Bell Tower Community Foundation has handled music requests and ... The chimes will still ring at the quarters and Laehn hopes to have the ...

Preserve Arkansas bestows awards

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 08:48:45 +0000

Over the years, the church had been modified, and the work changed its look; the bell tower and parts of the foundation needed repair. Using a grant ...

Downtown Asheville business owners light the way home for frontline, essential workers

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 03:22:30 +0000

"The church bells ringing, the lights going up -- it was inspiring," Weiss said. So, she had the idea to ... "I hope the word gets out. I would love to see ...

Punta Gorda church marks 125 years

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 22:30:00 +0000

The celebration commenced with a service of mid-day prayer, followed by the ... dinner provided by Johnny Lloyd and entertainment under an outdoor tent. ... Canon Richard Norman recognized the church's interior artistry and ... the stained glass mural of the Good Shepherd to its original altar and bell.

10 Times Spider-Man Forgot That With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 21:33:45 +0000

If he had done so, Spidey would've found it hiding in a church's bell tower. Then, it might not ... Later, it came out after the events of Civil War. To put it ...

Ardmore community prays for healthcare workers, remembers lives lost to COVID-19

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 18:22:30 +0000

... their buildings to memorialize the lives lost, some also ringing church bells. The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce joined the Chickasaw Nation in ... It's important to remember everyone who walks in and out of the hospital, Apala ...

Eicher family celebrates Jennifer's third birthday

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 13:07:30 +0000

Add the bacon, ham, onion, bell pepper, any additional fillings as desired, and most of the remaining cheese. Roll up in jelly-roll fashion, removing ...

Coronavirus' victims: Glendora church's bells tolled and gave sound to the mourning

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:56:15 +0000

| UPDATED: January 23, 2021 at 5:00 a.m.. On Jan. 19, eight people gathered in a room below the bell tower of First Christian Church in Glendora. They ...

Coronavirus' victims: Glendora church's bells tolled and gave sound to the mourning

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:56:15 +0000

The church bell they would ring is more than 100 years old, a classic ... the bell swung and banged against the clapper, its metal peal ringing about 40 ...

Coronavirus' victims: Glendora church's bells tolled and gave sound to the mourning

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:56:15 +0000

The church bell they would ring is more than 100 years old, a classic ... the bell swung and banged against the clapper, its metal peal ringing about 40 ...

At Laramie church, 400 seconds of tolling for 400000 dead

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 02:37:30 +0000

Punch Williamson pulls a chain to ring a bell in St. Matthew's Episcopal ... climbing up and down ladders in the 118-feet high clock and bell tower.

Manifold charms of Iloilo City districts

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:48:45 +0000

... de Jaro, one of the few free-standing bell towers in the Philippine islands. ... The most famous places to eat batchoy are Ted's, Deco's, Netong's, and ...

Harry Lee Hillery

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:26:15 +0000

Harry Lee Hillery, age 78, of Bluff City, Tenn., passed away on Thursday, ... He loved ringing the bell for services and singing (often very loudly) his ...

For whom the bell tolls: The COVID memorial, from the tower of St. Peter's

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:52:30 +0000

Four hundred thousand souls. Bells rang across the nation on Tuesday, at Joe Biden's request on the eve of his inauguration, to commemorate ...

Local Veterans for Peace celebrates nuclear prohibition treaty at 4:30 pm

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:02:21 +0000

Churches will ring their bells. “The entry into force of the Treaty is a turning point,” said Gerry Werhan, president of the Asheville chapter of Veterans for ...

Title: Former Georgetown President Offers Invocation At Biden-Harris Inauguration

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:18:45 +0000

Georgetown observed the memorial by ringing the bells of the Healy Hall clock tower ... Read more about their service in various levels of government.

Church of England Conservation Grants

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:25:47 +0000

The Church of England provides grants of up to £10,000 for the conservation of bells and bell frames in Anglican parish churches in England.

The fund is for the conservation of bells and bell frames of artistic, historic, archaeological or architectural significance. They may be:

Listed by the Church Buildings Council
Cast before 1700
Significant bells and bell frames of a later date

These grants are offered in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust and are awarded around 12 weeks after the application deadline.

Next closing date: 22 February 2021
Decision: May 2021

Liverpool, Cath Ch of Christ, Merseyside

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:51:29 +0000

Updated URL

Fire-hit Royston church: Return of bells marks 'progress'

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:35:01 +0000

Treasurer Phil Burchell said it would be "some time" before their tones would ring out once again over Royston, "something we can't wait to hear".

Best Visiting Destinations in London

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:07:30 +0000

Westminster Abbey is a popular church located west of the famous ... The amazing bell Big Ben or Great Bell is London's best and most popular destination to visit. ... The Big Ben clock was built in 1858 after the first clock broke.

400 seconds of tolling for 400000 dead

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:56:24 +0000

The new president asked churches to ring their bells, Americans to put ... pass by hanging bells of various sizes to the clock at the top of the tower.

400 seconds of tolling for 400000 dead

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:56:24 +0000

The Episcopal Diocese in Wyoming had invited each of its churches to heed ... The bells were purchased in Boston later, and the church's clock tower was ... and scholar climbed the tower and rang its largest bell in celebration of the ...

Ringing news

President’s Blog #26

New Mt. Vernon church owner promises to remove scaffolding by year's end

Hear the Old Parkland Bell for the First Time

Sound of Metal Director/Writer Darius Marder Talks Ableism in Filmmaking, Turning Down Robert ...

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Restoring history: Church hopes bells can help community celebrate after the pandemic

Netherlands rocked by third night of protests

Bell to be rung in Grantham after more than 100000 deaths recorded from coronavirus

PHOTO: 100 years of Latvia's de jure recognition!

Latvia marks 100 years of international recognition

Geneseo demonstrators hope protest is beginning of the end for nuclear weapons

Darrell Salk, son of polio vaccine creator Jonas Salk, gets COVID-19 vaccine in Seattle

TriCon Church participates in Nationwide Church Bell Ringing

TriCon Church participates in Nationwide Church Bell Ringing

It's time to stop playing Jenga with the economy and the country

Laramie church rings bells for 400 seconds to remember 400000 who have died of COVID-19

Laramie church rings bells for 400 seconds to remember 400000 who have died of COVID-19

Popular Pops At The Post concert postponed until September

117 Queenslanders celebrated in 2021 Australia Day Honours

Sugar Grove church celebrates 200th anniversary

Editorial: Monday Shorts: Vaccinations begin

'England vs America': The friendly war that unites a Tokelau atoll

Former home of historic Whitechapel business which made bells of Big Ben may be turned into hotel

French Told They Must Accept Noisy Church Bells, Cockerels, Tractors–New Government Law

Church of the Week: Brandon House of Worship

Church of the Week: Brandon House of Worship

Bell Tower Music Suspended Until Policy in Place

Preserve Arkansas bestows awards

Downtown Asheville business owners light the way home for frontline, essential workers

Punta Gorda church marks 125 years

10 Times Spider-Man Forgot That With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Ardmore community prays for healthcare workers, remembers lives lost to COVID-19

Eicher family celebrates Jennifer's third birthday

Coronavirus' victims: Glendora church's bells tolled and gave sound to the mourning

Coronavirus' victims: Glendora church's bells tolled and gave sound to the mourning

Coronavirus' victims: Glendora church's bells tolled and gave sound to the mourning

At Laramie church, 400 seconds of tolling for 400000 dead

Manifold charms of Iloilo City districts

Harry Lee Hillery

For whom the bell tolls: The COVID memorial, from the tower of St. Peter's

Local Veterans for Peace celebrates nuclear prohibition treaty at 4:30 pm

Title: Former Georgetown President Offers Invocation At Biden-Harris Inauguration

Church of England Conservation Grants

Liverpool, Cath Ch of Christ, Merseyside

Fire-hit Royston church: Return of bells marks 'progress'

Best Visiting Destinations in London

400 seconds of tolling for 400000 dead

400 seconds of tolling for 400000 dead