Another Bell For St Paul’s Church, Papanui

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 5

Another Bell For St Paul’s Church, Papanui

(By

PATRICIA WARD)

The dedication of a new bell at St Paul’s Church, Papanui, on February 1 will be a historic event for campanologists and of importance to many Christchurch citizens. No similar ceremony for a change-ringing bell has been held here since the Cathedral bells were installed in 1881.

By then, the Papanui church already had its five bells, first rung on July 27, 1880; the church consecration having taken place on December 21, 1877. It is recorded that one morning, Mr J. T. Matson, a congregation member, had visited the incumbent (the Rev. F. G. Brittan), asked the probable cost of the bells and promptly written a cheque for the total amount A peal of live was ordered, at an initial cost in London of £285, from John Warner and Sons, Crescent Foundry, Cripplegate, London, but the shipment was lost when the Knowlessly Hatt foundered off the Cape of Good Hope. The insurance enabled another peal and an Ellacombe’s chiming apparatus to be ordered and sent out to New Zealand. The bells weighed 26 hundredweight; the treble of three hundredweight and the tenor, 6f hundredwight being 33 inches across the lip and inscribed with the words “We sing the Lord’s song in a strange land.’’ “The Press” reported that the “quiet and pretty village of Papanui presented a scene of unusual gaiety” for the first ringing of the bells on Tuesday, July 27, 1880. Tower Strengthened “The building is a wooden structure and when built there was no prospect of the present addition. The tower, therefore, has been strengthened at a considerable cost; the work executed by Mr Godfrey, of Papanui, in a very substantial manner, there being little vibration to be felt when the bells are in full swing.” The “New Zealand Church News” added that “the Christchurch tramway, opened the same day, brought large numbers from Christchurch and

the members of the Railway Band, who enlivened the day’s proceedings by their performances.”

At 11 a.m., a fully choral service was held in the crowded church, attended by “many of the clergy from the city and suburbs,” the choir being assisted by “some gentlemen from Christchurch.” Lessons were . read by the Rev. E. G. Penny and the Primate of New Zealand (the Right Rev. H. J. C. Harper) gave a short address and undertook the dedication. The climax was the first ringing, led by the Rev E. A. Lingard on the treble, with C. Cranston 2, F. Hudson 3, J. Sherriff and F. Blackmore, alternatively on the fourth and F. Hall, tenor. Afterwards. luncheon in the Sunday schoolroom was served in relays to a large number of parishioners and guests, the caterer being Mr Amyes, of the Papanui Hotel. Illuminated Address The chairman (the Rev. Mr Brittan) asked the Bishop to present an illuminated parchment address, made by Mr Goodman and framed with inlaid woods by Mr Howell, of Papanui, to Mr Matson, “Springfield.” It read: Sir, the parishioners of St Paul’s,- Papanui, hereby desire to place on record their grateful acknowledgement of your generous donation to the church of a peal of bells, a gift not only valuable for its intrinsic worth, but one which in its nature is dear to very many from its association with their reminiscences of earlier days in other lands. They feel that the parish is to be congratulated upon the acquisition of so complete a ring, the first erected in the suburbs of Christchurch and for size and finish, for dearness and purity of tone,

probably unsurpassed in the country. “While they thus thankfully accept this handsome addition to the temporal possessions of the church.

as not unworthy of the high purpose to which it has this day been dedicated, they venture at the same time to express a hope that, together with your family, you may long be resident amongst them to be cheered by the merry ringing of the bells. “Signed for and on behalf of the parishioners, F. G. Brittan, MA-, incumbent, and W, Norman and C. Jennings, churchwardens.’. In reply, Mr Matson expressed his thankfulness for the prosperity which had attended him during his 15 years’ residence in Canterbury and the pleasure he felt on giving the bells from that prosperity. “The Press” stated that the bells “are of excellent tone and throughout the day were amply tested, the result being pleasing and satisfactory to all concerned.” Also “during the afternoon, cricket, football and other amusements were held in an adjacent paddock, the juveniles being especially catered for.” A “numerous attendance” at a dramatic and musical entertainment in the schoolroom concluded the celebrations. Tower Creaked Papanui, the village, was well pleased, but the city’s greater pleasure was incurred when the Rev. Mr Lingard presided over a meeting held in November- of the same year, when it was resolved “to form a society on the basis of the Ancient Society of College Youths, to be called the Society of Christchurch Cathedral Bellringers.” Subject to the consent of Mr Brittan and his churchwardens, practices were to be held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Papauni. These were continued until August, 1881, under Mr T. B. Hall’s direction.

On October 4, Mr Lingard was appointed the first president by the cathedral chapter and Mr Hall was elected the first master. A special motion thanked the St Paul’s incumbent and churchwardens “for their kindness in placing their bells at the use of the society during the year.” Campanology was now well established in the young city, but at Papanui, there were difficulties. The bells were rung regularly until 1903, but despite the extra strengthening, the wooden tower “creaked and swayed alarmingly.” To prevent vibration, the bells were then chimed, not pealed, until 1912, when further work was carried out. Only two more years and “the tower rocked so much during ringing that activity ceased until 1926 when the Matson family generously met the cost of additional reinforcement. Cathedral ringers assisted at the reopening on November 8.

Memories of the shaky tower and failure to form a

society could account for a gradual depletion of members, until activities eventually ceased. Cobwebs hung in the belfry, when six cathedral ringers paid a visit in 1946 and rang for 30 minutes. Four years later, another cathedral group achieved the first full peal on the Papanui bells, to celebrate the centenary of Canterbury. Society Formed The 5040 changes of St Simon’s, Bob Doubles and Grandsire Doubles, were rung in 2 hours 42 minutes by C. Hollobon, treble; G. N. Sloan 2; C. H. Ward 3: N. F. Reeve 4: A. Lancefield, conductor, 5. One of the ringers in the band remembers the tower creaking and groaning like a ship at sea but the peal proved the tower was safe. In 1964, a special ring was held at Papanui for one of Australia’s topmost ringers and conductors, Mr W. Rowe, of Sydney, who then completed a record of having rung at every tower in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. But where were the Papanui ringers? The years had turned a full circle early that year when an approach was made to the cathedral society for assistance in the training of a new band. The master (Mr R. H. Idle) offered to train six beginners at the cathedral in the elements of bell control. At the same time, the pupil ringers carried out extensive maintenance work on the Papanui bells and the cathedral society lent five ropes until the arrival of a new' set from England. The next step was the formation of the St Paul’s Papanui Society of Bellringers at a meeting held on May 19, 1965. First officers elected were: president Rev. Canon R. O. Williams; master, Mr D. Rowberry; secre- • tary, Mr R. Newton. The objects were recorded as the encouragement of the changeringing art and increased membership.

The society has progressed on this firm foundation, supported by world wide affiliation with similar bodies.

In this traditional English system of ringing, tile bells revolve almost completely, to be struck by inside clappers at the apex of each revolution; a quite different method from chiming, where bells are struck by hammers operated from a keyboard. First the bells are gradually swung up from their chiming, to ringing, positions and

rounds are rung, these being in the natural order sequence. Once the rhythm is established, the conductor calls the bells into changes, produced on various mathematically based plans, called methods. During last year, the Papanui society achieved over fifty doubles methods, not once missing a morning or evening service. Regular attendees were eight men and boys and five young women. Sixth Bell Mr Idle was elected the second master—official recognition of his work in building up the society. An English ringer for over 34 years, he resigned after seven years as master of the cathedral society, and has since concentrated his efforts on Papanui, where he is also a vestryman. A sixth bell was first mooted at' the society’s inaugural meeting and a fund was opened with a spontaneous donation from a cathedral society member. During the ensuing almost five, years, approximately 8600 was raised by members’ efforts, donations from parishioners and friends outside the parish and a substantial donation from the cathedral society. The new treble bell, of just over 2 hundredweight, was cast by John Taylor and Company, Loughbrough, England, and by coincidence, before shipment, was rung by Mr Idle's nephew during a visit to the foundry. Instead of the former practice of sending a bell to the foundry for tuning purposes, a tuning fork was sent from England, with instructions to tape record each bell, individually, from the existing treble. The frame was made in Christchurch, the cost being given. The addition has meant a major reorganisation of the bells in the confined space, entered by narrow wooden steps from the ringing chamber, 20 feet below. The six bells could be incorporated in a larger ring of eight or 10, but would be the maximum number for the existing tower, said Mr Idle. The new bell would open up a vast field in campanology, starting again from the bottom and working through the minor methods, said Mr Idle, who emphasised the support given by the vicar “who backs up the members in every way,” the vestry, the society’s secretary (Mr Ross Williams) and deputy master (Mr Sefton Tillman). Ninety years ago, the birth of change-ringing at St Paul’s, Papanui, introduced the art to Christchurch and New Zealand. The city and church have shared many experiences through the bells’ sound. Citizens and parishioners, alike, confidently place the six striped sallies on the rope ends in the youthful members’ hands.