October 2013 L New Series Number 18 L 50P Where Sold Bringing Back the Bells Would You Like to Hear the Christ Church Bells Ring out Again?
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Christ Church Link October 2013 l New series Number 18 l 50p where sold Bringing back the bells Would you like to hear the Christ Church bells ring out again? If you’ve been coming to Christ Church the proposal includes a plan to quieten for some time, you might remember the bells so that their sound is at a hearing the church bells. Up until more acceptable level (and for practice about ten years ago, they were usually can even be reduced to about the level rung at least once a month. Since of passing traffic). then, however, the bell frames have In order to canvas the opinions of deteriorated so badly that they’ve been the neighbourhood, there will be an declared unsafe to ring. exhibition in the church from Saturday Now there’s a proposal to restore 12th to Monday 21st October. Notices the bells, so that the traditional sound are being distributed with Bath Life of church bells can ring out again to magazine and by mail drop in the summon people to worship and let the immediate area. neighbourhood know we’re here. Of course, your views are also “We need to let the world see and hear wanted. Overleaf are answers to some that we’re alive,” says Canon Angela. questions you might have, but please ▲ The restoration plan is being led by chime in with queries and comments! Ian Hay Davison, himself a keen ringer. However, the Trustees and Church Council are very much aware that our bells haven’t been heard for some time, that they are very loud, and that some of our neighbours might not welcome the return of regular ringing. Taking account of these concerns, The bells are just inside the louvres in the tower, and hence very loud. Photos by Dave Kelly, Keltek Trust Restoring the bells Some answers to the questions you might have... Why are the bells in such bad condition? church. We would then ask the Actually the bells themselves are not Whitechapel Bell Foundry (who, as too bad, except for the largest, the tenor Mears & Stainbank, cast our bells in bell, which is cracked. The real problem 1867-8) to cast three new bells to make is the wood and iron bell frames, which a ring of six, making use of the metal are affected by wet rot, corrosion and from the cracked tenor bell. If we can general deterioration. The wheels which raise more money, we may be able to turn the bells are also broken in places, add two more newly‑cast bells to make and the bearings are very worn. The a total of eight (the number we now clappers are very loose, badly worn and have, though this is a large number corroded. None of this is the result of for a small church – most have six). any recent neglect – the local ringers complained about the state of the bells Isn’t this a rather grand plan? Why not as long ago as 1913, and by 1922 they just fix the frames and cracked bell? had become unringable. After partial Replacing the frames and recasting the restoration, they rang again in 1979, tenor bell is an option, but paradoxically and further repairs were carried out in could cost us more. This is because 1986, but the rot had set in – literally. donors tend to be more willing to give money for new bells (with appropriate So what exactly is proposed? commemorative inscriptions) than just The minimum needed is a new steel and for frames. However, this is a question iron frame, new wheels and headstocks. that’s open for discussion. There are a number of possibilities for the bells themselves. The current What about the cost? Won’t this take preferred solution is to hand the seven money that could be spent on other sound bells over to the Keltek Trust, a things we need to do? charity which arranges exchanges of For the proposed plan, we will need to bells between churches. They would raise about £110,000. However, around re‑use these in other churches and, in a quarter of this has already been exchange, let us have three redundant, pledged, and Ian is confident that the but recently cast, bells from a Liverpool rest can be raised without the Christ Some more views of the bells and the condition of the bell frames. Courtesy of Dave Kelly, Keltek Trust 2 Christ Church Link October 2013 Church congregation or Trustees having to divert funds that might otherwise be Devil’s advocate spent on other things (except of course An alternative view in the interest whatever they want to contribute!). of stimulating open discussion What about the noise issue? Many people love the sound of church Christ Church stands in a closely built bells. For centuries, bells have been the up area, and tests have confirmed that traditional way to summon people to our bells are very loud. This is because worship in the Church of England. These they hang right inside the open louvres days, however, we have alarm clocks and in the tower. Part of the proposal is to reminder apps to let us know when it’s block up the louvres, leaving only a time to go to church; many of us – in small gap at the top. A sound‑proofed fact, probably most of us – live beyond floor would be inserted above the bells, the sound of the bells of the church we with a trap‑door which, when opened, attend; and some people who do live will let the sound out through the top nearby don’t want to be disturbed by of the louvres but at a much reduced bells on Sunday morning at all. volume. When the trap‑door is closed – This last issue is the critical one. There for bell practice, for example – the bells are some among our congregation who should become barely any louder to are very keen on restoring the bells, but someone on the pavement outside than for others the bells fall into the category ordinary passing traffic. of “nice to have but not essential”. Surely the crux is: will they further the mission What about the historical significance of Christ Church? Will they help in our of the bells and frames? outreach to our neighbours, or are they None of the bells is included in the in the end mainly for the benefit of those Church Buildings Council’s Lists of whose hobby is bell-ringing? Bells of Historic Importance. They are You might say it’s no problem if the not particularly old: six of them date answer is somewhere in the middle – if, from 1867‑8, when the existing four‑ for argument’s sake, the main beneficiaries bell frame was extended to hold the will be the bell-ringers but their activities six, and the last two were added in an won’t do any harm to our relationship improvised upper level in 1873 (though with our neighbours. But there are still one of these bells had to be recast in some important questions. First, we’re 1874). Almost everything in the tower being assured that money can be raised has been repaired, replaced and for the bell restoration without impinging tinkered with many times, and past on other needs, but can we be certain that work has been quite piecemeal – some it won’t draw funds which donors might of the frame extensions are just sat on otherwise have given for other projects? wooden blocks. However, it is possible Second, if our bells really are vital, how that part of the tenor pit, although have they been allowed to fall into such described in a report to the diocesan disrepair in the first place? If they were authorities as “not unusual”, might date not a priority in times when church bells from around 1800, and the proposal is were yet more mainstream – times when to preserve this structure (though not restoring them to full working order must in situ) for its historical interest. have been a less costly prospect – what has changed to make them a priority now, Do you have any further questions, or comments when we’ll also need to raise funds for you’d like to make? Please contact Canon Angela, other works? Let’s decide what we want, one of the churchwardens, any member of the not just go along with the enthusiasts! Church Council or one of the Trustees. October 2013 Christ Church Link 3 Marriages and births Mothers’ Union news News is reaching us about members of the Sylvia M. Ayers reports: extended Christ Church family... Congratulations to Allie Gladstone, who It has been good to have various visitors married Jamie Scott in Yorkshire on Saturday at our monthly Corporate Communions, 7 September. Their daughter Erin Peggy was and since this service has been baptised at the same ceremony. specifically requested, we do hope that Congratulations also to Kevin Twissell, more of our own members and friends Dorothy’s elder son, on his marriage to will also be able to attend these in the Emma-Jayne Ottewell. The celebration took future. They take place in the Lady place in Bath Abbey on 27 September. Chapel on the first Wednesday of each month at 10am, and will be followed by coffee. At the next of these, Canon Angela will both report on our Group meeting on Thursday 12 September, and publish the subject and venue for the next one, when this is agreed. In last month’s magazine, I detailed our Autumn Sales bundle, which includes Calendars, Christmas Cards, Diaries and the MU Families First Magazine for 2014, but so far I have received only two firm orders.