Bellringers and Bells

All Saints will ring in the New Year nationwide!

The New Music 20X12 project is part of the Cultural Olympiad. Twenty new pieces of music have been commissioned, each lasting 12 minutes. One piece, Five Rings Triples, has been composed for church bells. The first performance will be given by our very own bellringers, at midnight at the start of the year 2012, here at All Saints. At the same time, Radio 3 will broadcast the piece, recorded during our bellringers’ final rehearsal.

Bells have rung out in All Saints Church for almost 500 years. The earliest records of bells in Kingston are in the 16th century, when there was a ring of six. Two more were added in the 17th cantury, and, in the 18th, these bells were recast and increased to ten.

Further recasting of individual bells took place at several times up to 1936, when a major refurbishment resulted in a ring of ten with a tenor of 27cwt. In 1972, the wooden frame was replaced by a new metal one, and the bells were increased to 12. Six of the old bells were kept and the other four were recast to form the treble, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th of the new ring.

Details of the current bells:

Recruits to learn the art of bellringing are always welcome. You do not need to be mathematically or musically gifted, and there is no upper age limit subject to you being fit enough to climb the stairs to the belfry. Ask the Rector or a member of the ringing band for further information if you are interested.

Practice night is Wednesday from 7:45 to 9:30 and all visitors are very welcome. We ring all twelve bells most practice nights and Sundays.

For further information see the All Saints Bellringers' website.