The city of BRADFORD is steeped in the history and success of the Industrial Revolution where the textile industries were dominant and drew in many migrants from Asia. Engineering then developed with Bradford being the first city to have motor buses in Britain in 1897. To day the Cathedral, dedicated to St. Peter, sits at the heart of the city as a vibrant hub of activity and on April 23rd its bell ringers will be testing their wonderful skills by attempting a PEAL ie: change ringing for 3 hours, on the 12 bells.  They will be reminding everyone that it is ST.GEORGE’S day, England’s Day and for all to celebrate.

There is a hidden gem in Essex, a peninsular known as The Dengie Hundred.  Bordered by the River Crouch in the south, the River Blackwater to the north and the North Sea to its east, with an interior a haven for wildlife and designated as an AONB.  It is a land with an ancient past whose ghosts of pilgrims, invaders, pirates, and fishermen are found within its estuaries and marshes.  The villages might be small but each have a church that is much cared for and their towers have a thriving community of bell ringers.  They have all signed up to celebrate ST.GEORGE’S DAY England’s Day on April 23^rd.  Go and listen to them.

The south bank of our capital has always had an edginess to it none more so than in the early 19th C when it became a source of desolation to feed the stories of Charles Dickens. And it was during this time that St. Saviour’s, as the cathedral was then known, was threatened with demolition.  It just managed to survive and was given a new nave in the hope it would inspire the local community to a more positive life.  In 1905 it became SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL  and today in spite of skyscrapers encroaching on its outline, this vibrant building plays an integral part in the life of London being at the hub of the capital’s cultural south bank, and The Globe Theatre.  This year it is Will Shakespeare’s 400 anniversary so its 12 bells will be rung loudly and famously not only for our Patron Saint St. George but to celebrate a great Englishman on April 23rd.

In the heart of North Yorkshire is the city of RIPON, the third smallest in England, which was founded by St. Wilfrid. The city is well placed for tourism as it sits in part of the Dales, is near Studley Royal Park and also the UNESCO site of Fountains Abbey.  In the heart of the city stands the strong stone building of the cathedral built by St. Wilfrid in 672. It is the seat of the Bishop of Leeds.  The present structure is the fourth and Grade I listed.  Its 13 bells are hung in the South West tower and they will be ringing for St. George on April 23rd.

Towers are signing up from Somerset to ring out on April 23rd and one of these is St. Catherine’s in MONTACUTE.  The village grew as a result of being on the cross over of several Roman roads. In the 11thC the parish was part of the Tintinhull Hundred and later, in the 12thC St. Catherine’s was built. The tower originally had 5 bells but later a sixth was added and today these ancient bells will be part of the celebrations for St. George’s Day by being an ‘open house’ for all to come and ‘have a go’ at ringing a church bell. So for anyone in the Yeovil district come and join the remarkable Rendell family where three generations will be able to show you the ropes.  Perhaps it is no coincidence therefore that bell ringing is why Montacute has the record for England’s longest life expectancy!

The West Country will be taking part on St. George’s Day with the first cathedral to sign up EXETER.  This amazing building in the heart of this Devon city was built as its first structure by the nephew of William the Conqueror in 1107.  The present cathedral is its third structure and built in the Decorated Gothic style.  This, the last of the stages created, gave us today the magnificence of its vaulted ceiling said to be the longest unbroken, unsupported Gothic vault in the world.  Not just one world record but its bells, all 12 of them are said to be the second heaviest peal (hung for change ringing in its southern tower) in the world.  If ever there was a must see and a must hear then this must surely be high on the list.  Good luck to the ringers.

Ringers are beginning to contact RforE to announce their plans to ring out for St. George, and England on Saturday 23rd April.  Some of the counties with towers taking part are Kent, Essex, Northamptonshire, Lancashire, Kent, Devon, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire, Somerset.  Come and join in and let us know.