The Bells! The Bells!
All the bells of Stowmarket church are sitting here on the floor of the church after being repaired and restored and two new bells made. The oldest bell here dates from 1450.
They've been away from the church for 3 years and much fund raising was needed for all the work on the bells as well as strengthening the tower and bell frame.
The bells were blessed by the Bishop and will be re-hung in the belfry very soon. Having ten bells instead of eight will allow the bell ringers to ring different sequences or changes - there are hundreds of combinations or patterns all with different names.
I borrowed this picture off their web page showing the lorry squeezing through a very narrow gap between the church and the old buildings on the right.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
That's really good news. English Change Ringing is a glorious tradition and I am glad it is in fine fettle in Suffolk. I know the Stowmarket team have practised in other churches whilst their Bells were away
ReplyDeleteFew sounds are more evocative of a British parish than the bells calling out across the land.
ReplyDeleteImagine how those bells were handled in bygone centuries, brought in one by one on horse and cart most likely.
I am so glad they have been repaired and the tower strengthened. Church bells are such an important part of our history and heritage and a wonderful tradition. Will there be a celebration when they are rung again? xx
ReplyDeleteThe sound of church bells ringing out is just lovely isn't it. Well worth getting them repaired and rehung, even if it is an expensive job.
ReplyDeleteI like spotting unusual loads like those bells on the motorway, once we had spotted a plane, a boat and an old truck on the backs of various low loaders, I said to Alan all we need now is a train ... lo and behold an hour later we passed an old railway carriage on a truck. Collection complete. :-)
'The bells, the bells' - really wonderful to hear them, though.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see - and hear - church bells. Nothing else like it.
ReplyDeletewonderful! there are some very old bells there
ReplyDeleteCathy
Church bells ringing is always a glorious sound that travels an amazingly long distances; softer and more somber the further afield.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely piece of history, our church has just one bell , so no peals here but I still love to hear it.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Oh wow, that's lovely news. I imagine the bellringers are going to have the time of their lives remembering old changes and tackling the challenge of new ones.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of church bells. The little shepherd’s church down our lane only has one bell but I always listen out for it on the first Sunday of the month at 9.45 as then I know it’s time to start walking to church. Our village church has a bell tower and a peal of six bells and a team of ringers led by my 80 year old wool-spinning friend. Have you read The Bell by Iris Murdoch? Many years ago when the children were small I read my way through all Iris’s novels borrowed from the library and The Bell was my clear favourite, so much so that I bought a paperback copy and have reread it a couple of times since. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteI particularly love the bell loaded truck inching through. Quite a load there.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that the bells are back and soon will be ringing loudly.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Oh, I hope that you can provide a short video so that we can hear them too. That is one of the things that I like best about the town where I live. You can listen to the bells from at least two different churches chiming the hour.
ReplyDeleteLovely! Hope you get to hear the bells when they are returned!
ReplyDelete