The village of MOSSLEY might be part of Greater Manchester but it is also at the convergence of three counties: Lancashire, Cheshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire. It will be here, on April 23rd, that these happy counties will hear the 8 bells of ST.GEORGE ring out loudly to celebrate England’s Day.

There are more of our lovely churches across the West Country organizing their towers to join in the ringing on April 23rd for St. George. Already signed up are the Church of the Holy Cross in Cruwys Morchard which has 6 bells, also St. Peter’s with its 6 bells in Shirwell shown above. There will be more happy news to follow.

The first building on the site was a monastery started by King Paeda of Mercia in 655AD  in what was called Medeshamstede.  It grew into what has become Peterborough but the building was still a monastery at the time Katherine of Aragon was buried there after her death in 1539.  As if through a sense of guilt King Henry declared it a Cathedral 1541 as a memorial to his first wife but it was later sacked by Oliver Cromwell in 1643.  Fortunately the fabric of this most unusual of cathedral buildings remained intact and its 13 magnificent bells are housed in the North West tower where they will ring out across the fens to celebrate St. George.

For 1,400 years a St. Paul’s Cathedral has been sitting on the top of Ludgate Hill the highest point in the City of London.    In 1878,  12 bells were cast which are said to form the second largest ring of bells in the world and now hang in the north west tower.  In the south west tower is ‘Great Paul’ the largest bell ever cast in Britain weighing in at 16 and half tons but sadly can no longer be rung.  (The second largest is ‘Great George’ in Liverpool Cathedral). It is from such a commanding position that the sound of these 12 bells will be heard all over the capital and bring great cheer as they ring out to celebrate  ST. GEORGE’S  Day.

The county of Kent has many wonderful churches and they are beginning to organize their towers to join in and ring for St. George’s Day.  Here is one of them, St. Mary Magdalene in Cowden with her 6 bells.

This remarkable building dedicated to St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne whose body lies therein together with St. Oswald of Northumbria and The Venerable Bede is a UNESCO site.  Her 10 magnificent bells will ring out on April 23rd to help the nation celebrate St. George’s Day.

All Saints church in Marsworth, (just north of Tring) in Buckinghamshire will be ringing for St. George. It used to belong to the Bishops of Ely and was mentioned in the Domesday Book.  Today the Grand Union Canal runs through the village  and canal boats passing through will soon hear the 6 bells of All Saints ringing more frequently as it becomes a centre of learning as part of The Association of Ringing Teachers.  Anyone interested in learning this ancient skill should contact the Tower Captain, Richard Booth on:  rbooth.maffers@talktalk.net.  Happy ringing.

Ringing for England, through social media, now has well wishers from America, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.  The ringing is spreading.

The village of Bicknoller nestles in a valley on the western edge of The Quantocks in northern Somerset.  Nearly the whole village is listed and amongst its delights is its church, ST.GEORGE also listed but as a Grade 1.  Perhaps because it has remarkable wooden carvings and a 1000 year old yew in its churchyard.  Its five bells were added to by a new Jubilee bell by funds raised within the community and all six will be ringing out to celebrate their Patron Saint.

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Carlisle stands defending the northern borders and its cathedral has been there for 900 years.  There have been recent excavations and a Treasury now houses wonderful archaeological finds from the medieval era.  This delightful building may not be the largest of England’s cathedrals but it is a gem and its 13 bells will be ringing loud and clear for ST. GEORGE on April 23rd.