CATHEDRAL BELLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21533, 3 July 1933, Page 6

CATHEDRAL BELLS

PEALS IN CHRISTCHUECu MORE RINGERS REQUIRED APPOINTMENT OF EXPERT When the pioneer settlers of terbury decided that Christchureh should have a cathedral, properly equipped with a fine ring of bells says the Press, they could scarcely have thought than in 50 years' time there would he such a lack of interest in the bells that the city could not provide enough enthusiastic bellringers to ring the full peal. Vet the old-established Society of Christchurch Cathedral Bell, ringers, whose earliest members tolled such joyous peals on the day of the consecration of the cathedral, is i n that position, with a membership too small for its requirements.

The society has decided on cer. tain publicity which, it hopes, will in. terest many young people in its activities, and in a healthy and absorbing hobby which in England ij almost as popular and as ancient as the English Church itself. The ring of bells in the cathedral numbers ten, and is the finest in New Zealand. Experts have agreed that it compares favourably with some of the best purely change-ringing bells in England. Yet, because of lack of numbers, the society has had to be satisfied for many years, in spite of no lack of enthusiasm, to ring only the lighter bells, and it is stated by the master-ringer, Mr. G. H. Claydon, that the heavier bells, or back eight, as they are known technically, have never been rung as a peal. How a Peal is Hung Twenty experienced men would be needed to accomplish a ring on the ten bells as a regular thing, and it is the hope of the society to be able to increase its membership sufficiently to achieve the full ring. At present it is difficult to secure a regular attendance of ten ringers, but now a trained ringer has been secured for one of the heavier bells, and the fui! ring is desired. In the cathedral the ringing ij carried out in a comfortable chamber high in the tower, situated below the great bells, which are rung by ropes ranged round the room. The ringers stand in a circle, and ring their bells by numbers, a peal being a set arrangement of the numbers. Certain standard peals are named by such names as "Queens," a simple and well-known peal, often heard in the square, and " Dick Whittington " (the identical peal which, it is said, inspired the future Lord Mayor of London to turn his feet toward the great city). The more simple peals are those favoured by learners; collectively they are known as " Churchyard " peals. The actual range of the ringers is apparently without end, for even on the seven bells commonly in use at the cathedral, it is possible to ring 5040 different changes or arrangements of bells. Any charge of monotony in the change-ringer's art seems to be belied in the statement of Mr. Claydon that, on the ten bells of the cathedral, it would be possible to ring no fewer than 3,628,800 changes. Exceptionally Fine Bells

Staying power and tenacity are other characteristics of the expert bell-ring-er's make-up, and one set of English ringers holds the amazing record of 18,027 peals, by ringing continuously for 12 hours 18 minutes, without a mistake. A famous English ringer, the Rev. F. G. Robinson, during his life rung 15,000 peals; he used to ring three times a week, and ■ described his hobby as " the finest of medicines." The foresight and ambition which characterised the decision of tho people of early Canterbury to erect the cathedral fortunately inspired the selection of exceptionally fine bells. They range in weight from 6cwt. 61b. to slightly more than 32cwt., and aggregate 137cwt. 241b., or nearlv seven tons.