Page 8 - Ickford Informer Newsletter JUNE Issue 2022

Ickford Church Bells the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers was formed and they

coordinate all bellringing societies plus being the focal contact point
for nationwide ringing (e.g. the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee).
how are they hung? by Karen Pile
’ HIS IS AN ART THAT IS PECULIAR TO ENGLAND, Ickford’s three bells are hung in a bell frame – a rigid structure
TAND ENGLAND FOR THIS REASON IS TERMED mounted firmly in the tower. Each bell hangs in a rectangular space
’
THE RINGING ISLAND Sir John Hawkins or ‘pit’. The bells ring at right angles to each other to distribute the
forces in the tower (so the tower does not get damaged). The bells are
arranged so that the ropes fall more or less in a circle. The rope goes
through a ground pulley so it drops in the same place whichever way
around the wheel the rope is wrapping. There are also rope guides
as the rope passes through two floors to the ringing room (located
behind the Minstrels’ gallery). Each bell tower has its own special
arrangement. It’s very humbling to think that wheelwright, blacksmith
and cordwain skills were combined to create ickford’s bells. v

Ickford
St Nicholas
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Ickford Bell ringing practice: Brian Woodham, Karen Pile and David McBain
Sunday 5th June 2022 @ 9.30 am
Ringing call changes
Ringers
Lynda Haggie
Jenny Johns
Brian Woodham
Karen Pile

England has always been celebrated for its church bells. In Brian Woodham up in the tower cleaning and Certifi cate presented to Ickford for ringing call
particular, the change ringing techniques that became possible removing birds’ nests changes during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
from the seventeenth century created the distinctive ‘English
sound’. Hanging bells so they can ring 360 degrees one way
and then 360 degrees the other evolved as the wooden wheels
were adapted.

The common phrase ‘ringing the changes’ refers to bell ringing
as each bell changes position with another in sequences, either
called by a conductor or to a particular composition (termed
a method). There is no sheet music. All methods are learnt by
heart. For a peal the band ring for over three hours and never
repeat the same sequence until back to the starting rounds. The
bell can only move one place each time.

As Ickford has only three bells there are few permutations.
Ickford changes Example changes with six bells
with three bells: (numbered 1 – 6): Similar Properties Required

1 2 3 3 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 Change until back
2 1 3 1 3 2 2 1 4 3 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 We have lots of fantastic buyers on our
books still searching for their dream
2 3 1 1 2 3 2 4 1 6 3 5
home. Please do get in touch if you are
3 2 1 4 2 6 1 6 3 considering selling 01844 279990.
Change ringing led to a surge of involvement in bell ringing for
both secular and religious occasions. The secularisation of
ringing probably enabled it to survive all the religious upheavals
of the English Civil War and the Reformation.

Many societies were formed. The community of ringers were,
and are, often called ‘The Exercise’. Ringing was fashionable
with the young gentry who saw it as a sport.
An important society formed in 1881 is the Oxford Diocesan
Guild (ODG). Ickford tower is a member of the ODG. In 1891 www.morganandassociates.co.uk

ourickfordnewsletter@hotmail.com 8 June 2022