This is a heart warming story of how the local community raised significant funds to restore their much loved EVESHAM ABBEY BELL TOWER.  It is one of the finest detached bell towers in the country and described by James Lees-Milne as ‘one of the nation’s architectural treasures.  It has taken several years but this Grade 1 listed building, will be ringing its 12 bells for the first time on April 23rd, in time for ST.GEORGE’S DAY. The town will be celebrating its Annual Asparagus Fair as these wonderful bells ring out creating a brilliant day – the best way to celebrate ENGLAND’S DAY.

The 2nd largest ringing bell in the country weighing around a colossal 2,344 stone is joining in. The City of LIVERPOOL not only has a famous cathedral whose 13 bells will be ringing out across The Mersey reminding everyone to celebrate ST.GEORGE’S Day but it also has the honour of housing the 2nd largest ringing bell in the country.  AND it is called ‘GREAT GEORGE’.  It will be the huge responsibility of a ringer to ‘toll’ this massive magnificent bell twenty three times in honour of the date – 23rd April, what an arresting sound it will be.

Whilst only a humble parish church this astonishing building CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY is larger than 21 of our nation’s cathedrals and the longest parish church in the country. It has been a place of worship for over 1000 years with the establishment of a Priory since the reign of Edward The Confessor. It stands in the town of its name at the confluence of the Rivers Stour and Avon. This majestic church with its 13 magnificent bells, two of which were cast in 1370, will be ringing out reminding the south of Dorset that it is ST. GEORGE’S DAY.

Situated in the heart of the country as the cathedral of Staffordshire, LICHFIELD with its magnificent spires and 10 bells will be ringing out this Saturday to celebrate England’s Patron Saint – ST.GEORGE.  It has been a wonderful supporter of this project and represents a special city.  The cathedral dates from as long ago as 700 AD with St.Chad as its first Bishop.  After the tumult and damage of the Civil War the city became a centre of scientific learning and enlightenment and continues today as a cultural attraction. Give cheer to the ringers who are all volunteers.

Yet another challenger for the ‘Rolling Ring’- the TAUNTON district of Somerset is gearing up to try and ring from as many towers as possible as a ‘rolling ring’ throughout the day as part of the national celebrations for ST.GEORGE’S DAY. This lovely part of the county will be hearing a ribbon of ringing as many of these wonderful volunteers ring out the day starting at the church of St. Mary in Kingston St Mary with its 6 bells at 9 o’clock and all the other churches will follow on. Go and cheer them on and count how many bells are rung.

Bells Bells from the very top of England to the very bottom and of course with many inbetween, will be ringing for ST.GEORGE.  The northern border is the county of  Northumberland and the northern tip is where BERWICK UPON TWEED is sited. Here in this town its famous clock tower with its 8 bells will ring out. To the furthest East in Norfolk there is LOWESTOFT with its St. Margaret’s church also with 8 bells and they too will be ringing.  The furthest west and furthest south is held by one church, ST. MARY’S in the SCILLY ISLES, seen in the picture below, who have been tremendous supporters of the Campaign and their 8 bells will be ringing loud and clear for April 23rd.

St Mary the Virgin Church, St Marys, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, England

Bells and more bells for the northern parishes of Gloucestershire have taken up the ‘Rolling Ring’ challenge and they will be ringing hoppingt from tower to tower consecutively throughout the day.  The town of TEWKESBURY  stands at the confluence of two great rivers, The Severn and The Avon, and at its heart stands TEWKESBURY ABBEY which is where the action will all begin. This Abbey is said to be the second largest Parish Church in the land dating from 12thC and it has 13 tremendous bells that will start the Ring which will then be followed by all the others until, exhausted and happy, the last tower at the end of the day.  Go and cheer them on, Saturday 23rd April.

Do you live in the North West of ESSEX?  Do you know how many bells there are there?  You will find out on Saturday 23rd April is ST. GEORGE’S Day when all the bells come alive as they join the challenge for a ‘Rolling Ring’ – the first year this will have been attempted. All the towers right across the county will ring in a continuous ribbon with ringers following one after another.  There will be four bands of wonderful volunteers starting at 9 o’clock at Willingale and Hadstock and they will all end up at the end of an energetic and fun day at Henham.  Why not go and give them a great cheer or even give them a hand at ringing.

Roll up, open to the public to have a go at ringing bells in NORWICH at  ST. GEORGE’S church in the Colegate district of the city.  This district used to be called Norwich over the Water but today the city has expanded so much that it is now in the heart of this ancient city.  The band of ringers that ring the 6 bells here are happy to welcome newcomers to try their hand at the ropes and experience ringing a church bell.  It is all part of the Campaign to celebrate ST.GEORGE’S day and what better way than to ring a bell in a St. George’s church on April 23rd, England’s Patron Saint’s Day. The ringers will attempt a ‘peal’ and at 5 pm will show you how to do it.  A different way to spend a Saturday afternoon – much better than shopping!

STUDENTS to ring out the 10 bells from WESTMINSTER ABBEY for ST.GEORGE’S Day.  Many of our universities have Ringing Societies and LONDON UNIVERSITY’s is one of the oldest having been formed in 1945.  A most successful Society that takes its ringing seriously so that they are often invited to ring across the country.  And here in the capital for 2016 they have been invited to ring out in the afternoon the 10 bells housed in the North West tower of WESTMINSTER ABBEY on Saturday 23rd April to celebrate ST. GEORGE’S Day. A great honour.