Bell Ringing

St Bartholomew Coaley

Coaley bells are rung for the Sunday Morning Services. Mostly these services are held at
9-15 am with ringing from 8-45 am. The ringers also practise on Wednesday evenings from 7-30 pm.

However, the number of ringers is relatively low and service ringing and practise only take place if sufficient numbers are available. Because of this, potential visitors are advised to consult the Tower Captain currently Terry Chivers.

To try and avoid the above uncertainties we are in need of new recruits. Strength is not a requirement but a minimum age of 11 years is; there is no upper age limit. Initially, recruits are required to acquire the skill of handling a bell, and training can be organised around the candidate’s availability rather than simply within the confines of a Wednesday practise. If you would wish to try your hand at bell ringing then talk to one of the ringers.

Having becoming a competent ringer a wide range of opportunities are available should you wish to avail yourself of these. Coaley is a member of the Wotton-under-Edge Branch of the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers and meetings are held each month in different towers. These meetings give ringers the opportunity to develop their skills as well as developing the abilities of others. Each year the Branch organises a competition when ringers from the area compete to determine which tower produces the best striking; i.e. the least clashes. The objective is to encourage the raising of standards of ringing.

St Cyr Stinchcombe

St Cyr has six bells hung for Change Ringing. A number of us from Stinchcombe are now learning to ring our bells. The bells are rung at the following times:

•Sunday mornings: 10:30 to 11:10 am (by arrangement)
•1st Sunday of each month for the evening service
•Thursday evenings: 7:30 to 9 pm
•Weddings and special occasions

We form part of the Gloucester & Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers and are helped out by ringers from St George, Upper Cam and other local towers.
Visitors are always welcomed to our ringing sessions and we always need new recruits.

St George Cam

St George has six bells that are hung for Change Ringing and one tolling bell. We have a small band of ringers, with a wide range of experience, and are helped out by a number of regular local ringers.

We ring at the following times:

• Sundays: 9.00 for 9.30 am service

• Tuesday evening practice: 7.30 until 9.00 pm by arrangement

• Weddings and other special occasions

We form part of the Wotton Branch of the Gloucester & Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers and help out at our sister church St Cyr, Stinchcombe.

Full details of Quarter Peals and Peals that have been rung here are being added to the Campanophile website listed under ‘Upper Cam’.

Visitors to our ringing sessions are always welcomed and we always need new recruits.

St James the Great Dursley

The present ring at St.James's is a splendid 8, cast and installed by John Taylors of Loughborough in 1904, with a Tenor of 19cwt in E-flat. This replaced an 1824 ring of eight by Mears of Whitechapel which, in turn, replaced a ring of 6 bells.

Ringing at Sunday Services

Morning from 9:00 until 10:00

Evening by arrangement, dependent on services and quarter peals.

Practice

Thursdays from 19:30 until 21:00 (except Holy Week)
All stages up to Spliced Surprise Major

Secretary Elizabeth Byrne

Ringing Master Frank Byrne

Steeple Keeper Andrew Bull

All ringers are welcome to join us for ringing for any service or on practice nights.

We are always keen to recruit new ringers. If you would like to learn the ancient art of church bellringing, please contact the Secretary or Ringing Master. Come along to a practice and see what it is all about and join us for refreshment afterwards.