Bell Ringing
Who Are We?
We are an active band of ringers who ring regularly for practices and services as well as other special occasions both locally and nationally. The band ranges in ages from teenagers through to those who would rather not reveal their ages! We are always on the lookout for new and returning ringers to join us.
What We Do...
The bells are rung weekly prior to Sunday morning services:
- Every Sunday, except the second Sunday, from 10.00am to 10.30am at St Andrews,
- Every second Sunday from 9.00am to 9.30am at All Saints,
We meet for our Thursday evening practice at St Andrews from 7.45pm to 9.15pm.
We also ring for weddings and special events (both local and national). Quarter peals (45 minutes long)
are rung on a fairly regular basis and we also welcome visiting ringers from other towers.
We regularly socialise together at different events including outings to other parts of the country to ring at different churches, and our annual Tower meal.
Our ringers are active in the Winchester & Portsmouth Guild of Church Bell Ringers (WPDG) and also in the local Basingstoke District of the WPDG.
The Basingstoke District organises a packed yearly programme of general practices, training sessions, striking competitions and social events such as barbeques.
Join Us
The Sherborne St John ringers are always keen to welcome new recruits to join the band. Anyone over the age of 10 (Year 5/6) upwards, are welcome to learn to become a bell ringer. No musical ability is required, nor is a great amount of physical strength. Full tuition is provided, and above all, it’s free.
If you are a returning ringer we would also love to hear from you.
If you would like to come along and meet us, or even have a go, please contact The Tower Correspondent, Lois Blissett, at the email address below:
ssjbellringing@gmail.com
About the bells
St Andrew's Sherborne St John
These bells were rehung in a new frame with all new fittings, in 1962 by John Taylor & Co. Loughborough. The frame is cast iron as are all the headstocks which are all of the canon retaining type, except that of the treble which was cast without canons. The stays are all Hastings stays and the wheels and pulleys are all of the traditional pattern. Access to the ringing chamber is via a short wooden ladder inside the church.
| Bell | Weight | Note | Diameter | Date Cast | Bell Founder | Inscription |
| Treble | 3-3-10 | E | 68cm | 1928 | Mears & Stainbank |
“TO THE GLORY OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED FOR THIS COUNTRY 1914 – 1918” |
| 2 | 3-3-25 | D | 69cm | 1602 | Joseph Carter |
“THIS BELL WAS MADE 1602” |
| 3 | 4-3-16 | C | 75cm | 1587 | Joseph Carter |
“PRAYFE YE THE LOEDE” |
| 4 | 6-1-27 | B | 83cm | 1390 | Wokingham Foundry | “AWE MARIA” |
| 5 | 8-1-24 | A | 92cm | 1587 | Joseph Carter |
“PRAYFED BE THE NAME OF THE LORDE” |
| Tenor | 10-3-13 | G | 98cm | 1618 | Henry I Knight |
“HENRX KNIGHT MADE THXS BELL ANO X6X8” |
Bells 2, 3, 4, and 5 have been identified by the Church Buildings Council as bells of historic significance.
All Saints Monk Sherborne
These bells are hung in a timber frame and are also fitted with timber headstocks. The wheels, stays, sliders and pulleys are all of the traditional pattern. The bells are rung anti-clockwise. The bells were rehung by Whites of Appleton in 2014. This is a ground floor ring.
| Bell | Weight | Note | Diameter | Date Cast | Bell Founder |
| Treble | 4-0-25 | D# | 72cm | 1862 | G Mears & Co |
| 2 | 5-1-2 | C# | 77cm | 1862 | G Mears & Co |
| 3 | 6-1-13 | B# | 81cm | 1595 | Henry I Knight |
| 4 | 6-0-23 | A# | 84cm | 1862 | G Mears & Co |
| Tenor | 7-1-4 | G# | 90cm | 1653 | Ellis I Knight |
Bell 3 has been identified by the Church Buildings Council as a bell of historic significance.
