Bellringers
The
Cathedral Bells
Ringers have always exulted in the "loud cymbals" of Psalm 150
and a more modern perspective is given by journalist and broadcaster Bernard
Levin, who says, "I know of no era or culture which, having the
technology to make bells, did not do so. They are, indeed one of the oldest
symbols of mankind's feelings; bells, almost since time began, have accompanied
solemn ceremonies and governed scenes of rejoicing, marked notable days
and laid down the hearers' duty, warned of attack and signalled victory,
roused the sleeping, harried the lazy, informed the unaware and, above
all, called the faithful to prayer." The Winchester ringers
are proud to be part of that link between the Cathedral and the City.
The Cathedral has a fine ring of fourteen bells in the key of C with a
tenor bell weighing 1.81 tonnes (or as ringers say, 35½ cwt).
Two further bells enable up to ten of the bells to be rung in the keys
of F and G. They were cast in 1937 and 1992, except for the B flat bell
which dates from 1621.
Click here for more information
on the history of the bells of Winchester Cathedral.
Ringing At Winchester
Normal Sunday service ringing times are 9:00 am and 2:30 pm. The practice
night is Wednesday from 7:30-9:00 pm. Visitors are always made welcome,
but quarter peals are sometimes arranged on Sunday afternoons. If you
are in doubt please contact paul_t_nolan@yahoo.co.uk.
The duties and payments to the ringers are set out in a statute of Charles II, which we understand is still in force. Thus the members of the band are paid 21?2p (originally sixpence) per duty ring for a service and 40p for a "special" ring. The special ringing takes place at 7:00am on Christmas Day, Ascension Day, St Swithun's Day and the Queen's Birthday (now the official one). Potential recruits should be aware that there are no plans for any allowance to be made for inflation since 1670.
The Band Of Bellringers
The Captain of the Ringers is appointed by the Dean and Chapter in consultation
with the Band and represents the Band on the Dean and Chapter's Staff
Meetings. The post is presently held by Carrie Eisenhauer. The Band elects
its own Ringing Master, Secretary, Treasurer and other officers. Our youngest
full member ever was 7 years of age, whilst the oldest of our current
members learned to ring during the Second World War. There are 25 members
of the Band, all are affiliated to the Winchester
and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers.
Secretary/Treasurer is Paul Nolan
2 Peninsular Square
Winchester SO23 8GJ
Telephone: 01962 849952
Email: paul_t_nolan@yahoo.co.uk
Above - Secretary Paul Nolan and Captain Carrie Eisenhauer.
Ringing Master is John Colliss
19 Downland Close, Botley,
Southampton SO3 2SG,
Telephone: 023 8078 5959.
Above - Ringing Master John Colliss.
Listen To Erin Sextuples
Click here to download a 35 second
sound sample of the Winchester bells being brought round from a touch
of Erin Sextuples. The transfer file size is 362Kbyte.
Acknowledgement
We are happy to acknowledge Curtis Brown on behalf of Bernard Levin for
their kind permission to publish this quotation, which is copyright ©
Bernard Levin 1991.
