1989. At the same time some of the were The St. Mary’s and St John’s Ringers The Bells reconfigured and the clock mechanism changed to go The Ringers are a joint band for both White Waltham around the wall rather than across the ringing chamber. and Shottesbrooke, a voluntary group under the & leadership of our Tower Captains, and we belong to the Weight Note Date Founder Sonning Deanery Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild Bell Ringing Cwt- of Ringers, founded in 1881.

1 4-0-0 E 1989 Recast by Whitechapel at The joint band (St Mary’s and St John’s) of bell-ringers 2 4-3-24 D 1989 Recast by Whitechapel is a very friendly group that welcomes new members. St. Mary’s and St John’s As well as our regular weekly practice sessions and 3 5-3-3 C 1989 Recast by Whitechapel ringing for Sunday service, we sometimes arrange an Churches outing to ring at other towers. 4 6-3-1 B 1989 Recast by Whitechapel

5 8-3-25 A 1989 Recast by Whitechapel We ring bells for: Sunday services and Weddings 6 12-0-9 G 1989 Recast by Whitechapel

Special celebrations such as Christmas Day and St. John’s and its bells New Year’s Eve The church is set in the grounds of the Shottesbrooke Estate. The six bells are in good working order and are of some Civic occasions such as Remembrance Day antiquity. Three of the bells date from the first half of the 17th century, with the newest (the treble) being added in Practice evening is Friday 7.30 – 9p.m. alternating 1964. The frame and fittings are in good order and the ropes between the two churches. are fairly new. The ringing chamber is spacious and has the benefit of electric light, unlike the rest of the church. Who rings the bells? St Mary’s, White Waltham St John’s, Shottesbrooke We are a team. Some of us have been ringing for 30 Bell Weight Note Date Founder St. Mary’s and its bells Cwt- years or more and some are novices. St. Mary’s is fortunate to have an excellent set of six 1 4-1-8 D# 1964 Mears & Stainbank Anyone can learn to ring: bells which ring well and are good for teaching. Part of the cosy ringing chamber is occupied by the clock 2 4-3-5 C# 1964 Mears & Stainbank mechanism which is over 100 years old – the clock Men and Women chimes the hour on the number 5 bell. The clock is 3 4-3-27 B 1634 Ellis Knight I, Reading wound twice a week and has three faces on the north, 4 5-3-20 A# 1634 Ellis Knight I. Reading Girls and Boys west and south sides of the tower. 5 6-3-4 G# 1904 Mears & Stainbank All ages from 9 to 90 !! The ring of six bells in the tower are set out with four 6 10-0-4 F# 1634 Ellis Knight I, Reading that swing side by side and two swing on the end at right angles to the rest. This is in order to reduce possible sway and strain on the tower and the fittings. In 1964 the treble of the five older bells was recast and a new treble added by to make a ring of YOU could learn to ring the bells with us and The frame itself is cast iron and was installed by six. The was hung with new fittings in the existing you would be most welcome. Whitechapel of London when the bells were re-hung in framework. Why we enjoy bell-ringing If you are interested in learning to ring, and The Art of Change Ringing taking part in gentle, sociable exercise Bells are tuned to a normal scale, so St. Mary’s and St. We are continuing a very English tradition that has please contact: John’s ring down. It is usual to start ringing down the lasted for centuries – the sound of church bells before scale, a sequence that ringers call rounds. services, at weddings, and to mark special events. Tower captain XXX (St. Mary’s):

The order in which the bells sound is then altered to It provides healthy, gentle exercise of body and mind. Tel: XXX give different sequences called changes. E: XXX We feel part of a group who have special skills – we This is done to a pre-set pattern or method and each have 'friends' anywhere in the country by visiting the Tower captain XXX (St John’s): ringer learns the method in order to know where their local church on their practice night. bell must sound in each change. There are standard Tel: XXX methods that are rung in most towers and this makes it It provides mental exercise if we want to progress that E: XXX easy to visit and ring with other bands. far with our ringing. Or just come up the tower at 7.30p.m. on Bell ringing is good fun! Once you have learned the We enjoy the team feeling of joint success when we Fridays to meet us and see what we do. basic technique you will always be made welcome ring well together. when you visit other towers. There are over 5000 towers in Britain with bells suitable for change ringing. More about the bells can be found at: Could I ring the bells? www.stmaryswhitewaltham.co.uk then click If you would like to try what might become an Almost certainly if you are interested in learning a new Bell ringers. absorbing life-time hobby, you can come to see if you skill. No great strength is needed, just some co- like it – there’s no obligation and it’s not strenuous. ordination and a sense of rhythm. You also don’t need to be brainy!

How do I learn to ring? You must learn with a local band that has bell ringers experienced in training beginners. The St. Mary's and St John’s combined band has a wide range of experience in training. We are able to arrange special practice sessions for beginners. These can be held before normal practice on Friday evenings. The training is free and you do not need any equipment; just wear comfortable clothes that permit ease of movement and sensible shoes.