On St. George’s Day April 23rd 2019

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900 rings for 900 years at ST.GEORGE’S day in HARNHAM Wiltshire

Here is a heartwarming story of how Reverend Becky Roberts organised the 900 year celebration of her ST. GEORGE’s church in a village just north of Salisbury, named HARNHAM on ST. GEORGE’S Day.  The village’s C of E Primary School children gathered together to watch Year 6 ring out a celebration for the church and for England’s Patron Saint on handbells so that in all, the children rang 900 times to the delight of everyone.  WELL DONE YEAR 6.

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Another wonderful Somerset band rang – BRIDGWATER

In the north of Somerset is the important market town of BRIDGWATER whose church, St. Mary’s rang out on its 8 bells to celebrate ST. GEORGE’s Day.  The church has a very tall tower standing as it does in the heart of the town.  It was used by the Duke of Monmouth to survey the King’s encampment based in Westonzoyland before he marched to his defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685.

And here is the happy band from left to right back row: Keith Lane, Eric Wood, Sean Maltravers, Richard Lee.  Left to back front row: Kate Bennett, Jane Cork, Carol Wood, Margaret Lee (C) Hasu Watson.

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The Kentish village of COWDEN rang out

The village church of COWDEN in Kent is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene and has six bells.  The original bells were recast and rehung in 1911 to commemorate the reign of Edward VII and a sixth was added at the coronation of George V.  On the day the Churchwarden gave all the ringers a red rose buttonhole and they celebrated their hard work and ST.GEORGE in style – with champagne.  Here is a picture of the happy band sent in by Caroline Levy-Cooper.

Cowden Kent

DURLEIGH in Somerset rang out for ST. GEORGE

Another wonderful tower in Somerset that stands near Bridgwater.  It was nameless for many years but recently it has become dedicated to St. Hugh.  These happy ringers rang quarter peal of doubles, and three methods: Grandsire, Reverse Canterbury, and Plain Bob.

The ringers are from left to right back row: Valerie Stone (C), Derek Hurley, Carol Arscott. And from left to right front row: John Hallett, Bill Wilkinson, Terry Warman.

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A Happy Band of successful Somerset ringers WESTONZOYLAND

Pictured are the band that rang for St. GEORGE from the tower in WESTONZOYLAND in Somerset.  The church is dedicated to Blessed Virgin Mary and its tower is 100 feet tall standing in the village which was the site of The Battle of Sedgemoor  6th July 1685 – the last battle to have taken place on English soil. The ringers rang 1260 changes, for 43 minutes with 3 methods.

The photo of these wonderful ringers are, from left to right:  John Hallett, Maurice Hurley, Trish Everitt.  Front Row: Brian Wylde (C), Mike Gardner, Peter Welch.

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The Cathedral of The Dales – RIPON – will join in on April 23rd

It may be only small as cities go –  the 3rd smallest city in England – but RIPON sits amongst some of the loveliest countryside England has to offer.  It was a market town founded by St. Wilfrid (634 – 709) who was born in Northumbria,  and sits on the River Ure and has nearby the ruins of Fountains Abbey a UNESCO site.  St. Wilfrid also founded the cathedral, dedicating it to St. Peter, and brought specialist craftsmen and stonemasons over from Europe as he intended it to match the brilliance of other cathedrals. As a result it is one of the best examples of early English Gothic in the country and is dedicated to both St. Peter and St. Wilfrid. Its bells have a rich history and this ring of 13 will be ringing out across The Dales for ST. GEORGE.

RIPON  Cathedral