PEOPLE of all ages were given the chance to find out if bell ringing is for them at a trial day at St Mary’s Church in Brecon at the weekend.
A total of 1,400 bell ringers are being sought across the United Kingdom to make sure that this November’s celebrations of 100 years since the end of the First World War are suitably spectacular. The number 1,400 is significant because that is the number of bell ringers who died in active service during the conflict, which ended on November 11 1918.
The search for bell ringers is part of a project called ‘Ringing Remembers’. The aim is to recruit and then train the bell ringers so that they can take part in a “worldwide” commemorative ringing on the 100th anniversary.
Nineteen people accepted the invitation to visit St Mary’s Church on Saturday (July 21) for the try-out, coming from Brecon, Aberdare, Herefordshire and even as far away as Boston in America. The ages of the prospective bell ringers ranged from just 10 years old to pensioners.
Inside St Mary’s they were able to see an informative display on aspects of bell ringing, information about ‘Ringing Remembers’ and material on the Powys War Memorial Project, which aims to make sure the names of those on the county’s war memorials are as accurate and comprehensive as possible.
After being welcomed by bell ringers from the church they got to go up to the belfry to see the church bells.
The first lesson in bell ringing then began. Kath Johnson from Ringing Remembers said: “Everyone did really well and enjoyed the unfamiliar experience, some enjoying it so much that they opted to start on a ringing course straight away.”
The bell ringing lessons properly start in the last week of July. Anyone who was unable to make Saturday’s bell ringing induction can still get involved in the project by emailing Kath Johnson at [email protected] or calling 01874 658670. Further details are available by emailing [email protected].