Christmas Bell Ringing

A far more joyous melody was flung abroad when our ringers commenced to practise for Xmas, the familiar music bearing the promise of festivities to come.  On winter evenings it was a keen enjoyment to sit on a bench in the ringer’s loft, then situated on the first floor of the tower, during the weekly pealing of the six find old bells.  A curious sensation came as the ropes were pulled downward, straight and steady as so many metal rods, while on their upward journey the same ropes set up a snake-like wriggling and rattling which almost drowned the clanging of the bells themselves as they swing in their chamber, two floors above.

Then cam Xmas itself when our ringers gave us full measure of their labours.  In my time those ringers were not so proficient in their art as later performers became.

 The head ringer would shout out the sequence required for the next change; perhaps1.3.5.2.4.6. Then, ensued a dire confusion as the various bells found, or forced their way to the order indicated.  But, all the same, one of the delights of the season was to sit cosily in the family circle and listen to the old familiar sound, confusion and all, as the jangle came borne on fitful gusts of the wind.  In later days the scientific system of change-ringing was instituted and great perfection was attuned, but somehow the gay abandon of former times was missing, the old order had changed.

Christmas generally was celebrated in much the same was as at present except that there were fewer dances and no ‘jazzy’ music. 

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