The Bells at St. Mary's

St. Mary’s church has eight bells, the band (ringers), is made up of fourteen ringers and three learners with ages ranging from 14 to 84.?
Bell ringing practice takes place on Friday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.00pm and ringing for Sunday morning services takes place from 9.45 until 10.30am.
At other times we join with other local bell ringers, in other bell towers, during their practice nights and they join us on Friday evenings.

During September, this year, we are having essential work on our bell frame which is being brushed down to remove any rust. It will then be re-painted to prevent any new rust forming.

The cost of this process has been estimated to be £8,580 including V.A.T., and we have managed to cover this cost through fund raising together with, and subject to, the grants being paid that we have been promised, and a successful reclaim of the V.A.T. The work on this process should take three weeks from 9th to the 30th of September, during which time our church bells will remain silent.

We will be back, ringing the bells, for our Harvest Weekend celebrations during the 1st weekend in October. During that time, we will have our normal practice time, on the bells, at Greasley church.

Bell ringing is most enjoyable, and we are invited to ring the bells in other towers, both in our District, Diocese and further afield. Likewise, we are happy to receive other bands, visiting St. Mary’s, to ring our bells. Bell ringing provides very good exercise, although, it is not a strength exercise but rather, it is about technique and listening.

Bell ringing is a hobby that certainly taxes the brain, and you never stop learning!