I
Preserve and Renew: Elmley Castle Bells
Support our fundraising project to preserve and renew the bells
“This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License”
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
Learn to ring
Bell ringing is a team activity that stimulates the brain and helps keep you fit (especially climbing some of those tower steps!) and it also makes a glorious sound!
Ringers come from all walks of life and generally range in age from ten to those in their eighties. Many different societies have been formed, bringing together people from the same geographies or similar interests – all of them being pretty much an excuse to do more ringing!
“When I’m ringing I forget all the tensions and frustrations of the day. Even better: I couldn’t wish for a nicer group of friends!”
Register using our Learnto Ring form to find a tower near you!
Could I become a ringer?
“Almost anyone can ring. And you can learn to the level you are personally happy with. Ringers might be unmusical, might be bad at maths, might not be very strong physically, and some might have mental and/or physical disabilities of some sort – it is really such an inclusive activity!”
Ringing is well within the capabilities of most people. The initial learning takes several weeks, after which you can begin to ring with the rest of the band (that’s what we call a team of people who ring together). Most ringers practise once or twice a week and ring before or after church service on Sunday.
Ringers come from all walks of life, and learn at different ages. A recent young (teenage) ringer says this about ringing: “Over the past 2-3 years I have learned a lot, and it has helped me improve my social skills and confidence as well as team integration. Bell ringing also has opened up the opportunity of going to new and exciting places which I always look forward to. I would highly recommend it to anyone!”
Why learn to ring?
“Learning to ring is much like learning to play any musical instrument – it takes practice and there are countless levels of skill to explore”
- Make friends around the world
- Develop a lifelong learning experience
- Maintain a traditional skill
- Provide a service to the church and the general community, as well as for those getting married, celebrating another special occasion, and saying goodbye to a loved one in a very special way
- Take part in a team activity
- Share stories and receive support (not just about ringing) and friendship in the pub after practice
- Have a great mental workout
- Have the opportunity to visit amazing places
- Use this new skill to complete part of your Duke of Edinburgh award, or to fundraise for a cause you believe in
How do I get involved?
Listen for the bells at a church near you or register on ourLearn to Ringwebsite, so we can find a tower in your area. Then go along and see what ringing is all about.
Beware! Once you’ve got the bug, you may find it hard to give up:
“I learnt to ring over forty years ago and I still get the same buzz that I did when I first started.”
“I have been ringing just a few years, and it’s obsessive for me! But for others it is about ringing once a week, and they are really happy with that.”
To find out more about bell ringing visit the Central Council Of Church Bell Ringers: https://cccbr.org.uk
See Our Progress
- Climbing the Bell Tower !
RAISED
so far
£43,000
NEEDED
still
£93,000
The actual Appeal-o-Thon can be seen in St.Mary's Church.
Very many thanks to Martin Buckley for designing and constructing it.
Preserving Our Church Bells
We are committed to preserving four of our old bells for future generations – but we need your help.
Please donate to our cause and help us preserve these old bells, one dating back to 1420, and cast new bells to replace them.
No longer suitable for full circle English style ringing, the four old bells will be seated together and have chiming hammers fitted to them, which will allow them to be chimed easily and accessible for anyone to ring.
Our bell frame and support timbers will also need to be replaced due to their structural integrity becoming weakened over 150 years of continual use.
Our restoration project will allow these newly cast bells to ring out for centuries to come.
Approach
Fundraising Strategy
The fundraising project at St. Mary's Church, Elmley Castle is making steady progress in preserving the bells and replacing the old oak frame with a new steel frame.
We have devised a project that retains historic features where possible alongside tried and tested modern materials whch will be essential to making the project successful.
Planning
Fundraising Project Roadmap
Our roadmap for the Fundraising Project outlines the steps to achieve our goals of preserving four old bells and casting three new bells, as well as replacing the old oak frame with a new steel frame, all based in St. Mary's Church, Elmley Castle.
1
Planning Phase
This is our current stage
A detailed project plan has been submitted and has been reviewed by the Church authorities and Historic England and is awaiting final approval
2
Awareness Campaign
Through an awareness campaign, we aim to inform the community about the importance of preserving the four old bells and casting three new bells.
3
Fundraising Events
Organizing various fundraising events will help generate the necessary funds to support the goal of replacing the old oak frame with a new steel frame.
4
Bell Preservation
Skilled professionals will be engaged to preserve the four old bells, ensuring their longevity and historical value.
5
Casting and Framing
New bells will be cast and a new steel frame will be installed, enhancing the sound quality and durability at St. Mary's Church in Elmley Castle.
Updates and Downloads
Preserving Historic Bells
Detailed Report of the Works Required
Updates
You can also find more information about the project in the Church
Restoring Our Heritage
Statement of Need to Historic England
Maintaining Tradition
History and Provenance of Our Bells
Elmley Castle bell ringers at the home tower. Christmas 2023
What your donation could help to fund
The Druce Bell
This was kindly donated by Brian and Lesley Druce in 2011. It is currently on show in the nave. Your donation of £2500 would help to hang it in a new ringing frame.
Head Stock
All 6 bells require new headstocks, each one costs £1,100
New Bearings
All 6 bells require new bearing units, each one costs £450
Cast a Bell
To cast one new bell will cost £11,000.
Taylor's foundry can inscribe donor's names on the casting
Bell Clapper
They also require new clappers, each of these costs £300
Roller Pulleys
Six new roller boxes, containing the rope pulleys, costing £200 each
Bell Frames
New steel bell frames are required to replace the old oak frames. Each one costs £2500 and we need 6 in total.
Bell Wheel
We need to replace or restore each of the existing bell wheels, costing £800 each
Stays and Sliders
Six new sliders will also be required, each costs £150
News & Resources
Updates & Info
Fundraising Events
We are planning a series of fundraising events and activities over the coming months. Please get involved.
How to Make a Donation
We are very grateful for any contribution you would care to make to our cause.
If you are a UK tax payer, then please consider gift-aiding your contribution as it makes a huge difference to our fund-raising. Here is a form that you can download and send to us with your donation.
Thank You Very Much !
Ways to Donate
By Bank Transfer:
To this business account PCC Elmley Castle
Sort code: 40-52-40 Account number: 00019992
Please use reference: Bell fund
By cheque:
Make payable to: PCC Elmley Castle Bell Fund
and send to:
Bell Fund
Rectory Office,
22 Parkwood,
Elmley Castle,
Pershore WR10 3HT
For any enquiries regarding donations, funding a bell or one of the components with the option of inscribing your name or company, please use the contact message box at the bottom of this page