Bellringing
Most people marrying at St James's request bells, which are rung as they leave the church after the ceremony. The bells are also rung for the crib services and Midnight Mass at Christmas, at New Year with slow, mournful ringing as the old year dies followed by joyful tunes after midnight to welcome the new year. The ringers are occasionally asked to ring on other occasions, for wedding anniversaries, special birthdays, or sometimes at funerals to celebrate the life of the deceased. Bell-ringers are present in the tower during the St James’s Day celebration to demonstrate the bells and to explain their history and ringing patterns. Visitors, including children, are encouraged to have a go at ringing the bells. St James's bells are housed in the bell tower. There are six bells at St James's, cast in 1893 and 1894. They are fixed so are not rung by swinging them on their axles. They are chimed manually by one ringer pulling sideways on ropes which hang vertically side by side. Four of the bells, which automatically chime the hours and the quarters, are also connected electrically to the clock. Find out about the Bells. Although the bells are rung by only one person at a time, there are usually two ringers 'on duty' on each occasion. Each rings for a couple of minutes and then passes to the other but the changeover should not be noticeable to those listening! Ringing is fun and new ringers are always welcome. Anyone from the age of about ten can learn to ring. It takes several hours to learn, but once trained, the only commitment is to ring before the 9.30am service about seven times a year. Find out moreThe Clock & Bells (document) ContactSusan Horner on 020 8979 9380
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