Belfry Gossip
The new church illustration on the left, is of no particular named church, and indeed is most probably an artist’s impression of a "typical" church. However there are no typical church buildings. As we travel around the Branch, the Diocese and further afield on various ringing visits and outings, ringers encounter numerous church designs, shapes and differing proportions.
Of the churches we visit, some have just towers, while others have combined tower and spire. Usually the tower is positioned at the west end of the church, similar to St. Mary’s, but some church buildings have the tower in a central position, roughly where the nave meets the chancel.
Some of the larger churches and cathedrals have more than one tower, similar to York Minster and our own cathedral at Peterborough. Both these cathedrals have two towers at the west end, as well as a central tower. Where are the bells placed? It is not always easy to decipher the answer, even when the bells are ringing.
In cities like York, where the roads are built on the grid system, it becomes very difficult to ascertain the direction from where the bells are ringing. In Rushden itself, there are areas close to the church where the bells can hardly be heard and equally, providing the wind is in the right direction, areas on the fringe of the town can hear the sound quite well.
More chocs have arrived in the ringing chamber and the waste bin overflows with wrapping paper. Chocolate can be a source of energy which ringers desperately require and that’s the tale we’re sticking to!
Peter’s 70th Congratulations to Peter White who celebrated his 70th birthday at the beginning of February. This year, several of our ringers will be joining the 70+ brigade and that’s the reason for appealing for more recruits. We rang a quarter peal called Amsterdam for Peter and presented him with one of our commemorative certificates.
A Saturday Morning Practice in February was held at St. Mary’s, when members of other towers in the locality joined forces for an 8-bell practice. This is a monthly practice and in turn, the ringers visit the churches in the Wellingborough Branch, which are fortunate enough to have 8 bells. These practices are in addition to the quarterly meetings and training afternoons/evenings which are also organised for Branch members.
An April Peal: Most churches limit the number of peals attempted in each year. At St. Mary’s we try to organise four dates throughout the year for peals, one of which we usually set aside for any visiting band of ringers. Sometimes ringers request an opportunity to ring and at other times a date is offered to a band. This year a date in April has been earmarked for a visiting peal band. The band can and often does include some Rushden ringers. The exact date has still to be confirmed but will be listed on the weekly church notice sheet.
Peal Ringers: Ringers who enjoy ringing peals (lasting 3 hours approx.) obtain great satisfaction in ringing their peals at different churches within the area, diocese or further afield. Readers will recall that St. Mary’s has three ringers who have rung over 1000 peals. Some church’s bells become a magnet for ringers, either for their sound, availability or easiness of ringing, whilst others are the complete opposite.
Most churches, therefore, have to limit the number of peals per year, as they are positioned in the middle of villages, towns or larger areas of urbanisation. In this day and age, with all the legislation regarding environmental pollution etc. it is unfair and unwise to inflict the sound of bells to the residents of nearby properties over an extended period of time and on too many occasions, except for Sunday Service ringing.
In some cities, the church may be surrounded by office blocks and weekend peal ringing causes no problems. The sound from some churches can be greatly minimised by the use of very effective sound control and thereby allowing the bells to be used regularly for peal ringing, as at Burton Latimer.
"Open Door": A representative of the ringers attended the dinner and presentation by the Revd. Tim Sledge. Afterwards, Tim spoke informally to various groups and individuals. Knowing ringers are not adverse to a tipple or two, he suggested the small brewery at Northampton could be requested to create a brew called "Open Door" and together with beer mats, have it served in local pubs – well at least a suggestion!
Tintinnabulum