Music and bell ringing
The Priory has a long and rich musical tradition. We are pleased to have Frank Bowler as our organist and choir master. We also have a number of other accomplished musicians in the parish who contribute in worship and when occasion demands. The Priory is in the remarkable position of having an organ which is far larger and more spectacular than one would expect in a parish church in west Cumbria. It is a Father Willis organ. You can read more about it by following this link to our village website. We also have a Steinway grand piano which we use on Sunday and for concerts. The Priory is the largest building in the village, and as a result is often the venue of choice for various orchestral concerts linked with the region and the school. The choir is always looking for new members and we hope to expand our range of music by involving whatever instrumental talent we have along with the piano.
Bell Ringing
Every Sunday since the bells were installed in 1858, the Priory ringers have climbed up the 800-year old spiral staircase half an hour before the morning service to ring the priory bells. Originally, in a time when there were no clocks, the bells were rung to give timely warning of the service. But even today, with quartz time-keeping available to everyone, they still summon people to worship. It’s not just a time prompt, but a spiritual reminder in a world of secular values that a religious service is about to take place in the midst of the community.There are eight bells, the heaviest weighing 13 cwt (600 Kgs), and there has to be one ringer per bell. This is not the ringing of tunes with hammers attached to ropes, or the random clamour of continental bells swinging as they wish, this is English “full-circle” bell ringing. The video shows both the ringers, and on the floor above them, the bells. The bells are rung from mouth upwards back round to mouth upwards and then back again; this is the “full circle” of the name. This technique was developed in the 1500’s when it was realised this would give control over each bell’s speed, regardless of size. Because of this, the bells can be rung in an orderly fashion, 12345678 – 12345678, etc, which is known as “Rounds” and is the sequence commonly associated with weddings. There are many other combinations, and there are continuously changing sequences, known as “changes” – hence the old expression “ringing the changes” which means to try all the possibilities. Downstairs the ropes travel a great distance because the of the size of the wheels. The ringers only pull the rope when the bell is mouth upwards, in this way a small amount of effort can significantly affect the speed of the bell. So what happens on a Sunday?The ringers arrive in the ringing chamber, some breathless after the climb up the 54 Norman steps. The bells are mouth downwards, so they are gradually swung higher and higher until they are ringing in the way you see in the video. There is a mechanism which allows the bells to stay upside down, so the ringers can take their hands off the ropes and take a brief rest. Ringing of rounds or changes now commences, sometimes in a 20 minute block, or if there are latecomers who are joining in, smaller intervals. Five minutes before the service, it is time to “ring down”. This is the reverse of ringing up, and the bells are swung lower and lower until they are mouth downwards and stationary. The pespiring ringers tie the ropes up and clatter down the stair into the morning cool of the graveyard. In the church the the first hymn is under way and the rooks are settling once again on the tower parapet. The bells have summoned the congregation and performed their act of witness. The ringers practice on Wednesday evening, and being a sociable lot, discuss progress in an adjacent ale-house. We’re always looking out for more ringers, so if you want to come along and see what we do, give me a ring on 01946 824898.
Doug Sim,Tower Captain.
St. Bees Priory Bells from Admin on Vimeo.
