A CHURCH where some of the influential change-ringing methods on the earth originated now has restored bells, but no band of ringers.
The Killamarsh Treble Bob was developed at St Giles’s, Killamarsh, and celebrated at an event held there in 1892. It advertised “5042 Changes on Six Bells in Seven Different Treble Bob Methods” in three-and-a half hours, featuring Killamarsh, City Delight, College Pleasure, Arnold’s Victory, Duke of York, and Kent Treble Bob.
St Giles’s tower is one among 144 in Derbyshire, served by 700 ringers. Numbers are falling across the UK, where there remain about 30,000 lively ringers — a number that shrinks every yr. Fewer than ten per cent are under 25. A national appeal was launched before Coronation, in May 2023, to seek out enough ringers to mark the occasion (News, 13 January 2023).
The bells have been silent for 4 years at Killamarsh, where there isn’t a current team. A £76,450 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has successfully restored them, and the church is actively searching for ringers.
It held an event this month at which experienced ringers were readily available to satisfy potential recruits and impart their knowledge. “We’ve brought the bells back to life after 4 years of silence, but when nobody steps forward to ring them, we risk losing a component of Killamarsh history,” the project manager, Richard Godley, said.
“Bell-ringing is uplifting, sociable, and surprisingly satisfying. We’d love people of all ages to return along and see what it’s all about.”
Neil Anderson, who co-ordinated the event for St Giles’s, was encouraged by the response. “The recruitment drive went thoroughly,” he said. “We had a superb list of individuals serious about bell-ringing and wanting to sign their name. I’ve had them contacting me on social media, they’ve turned up on the church, and others have been calling as well. So far, so good. We’re very hopeful.”
