Page 20 - Jigsaw June 2019

Notes from the belfry...................................................................
Team Thrapston compete in Bell Ringing at the Spring Festival
On Saturday April 27th six stalwart bell ringers set off to ring at the delightful St. Andrews Church at Cotterstock. The Church is in a very picturesque setting overlooking the Nene Valley and within the past year or two has had a new ring of six bells.
The purpose of our endeavours was to take part in the Spring Festival and Striking Competition for Peterborough Diocese. There were seventeen teams taking part, drawn from all parts of the Diocese from Towcester and Daventry to Kings Cliffe and Desborough.
The Guild Ringing-Master was slightly shocked to see so many teams register but also immensely pleased at the number of thriving and lively bands now ringing throughout the Peterborough Diocese.
Team Thrapston were drawn in the middle part of the competition so once we had ‘done our bit’ we had the pleasure
of wandering up to the Village Hall for a much needed cup of tea, cream cakes and scones whilst we listened to the rest of the competition pieces.
Then came the results, as in all major competitions, in reverse order. We sat with notebooks and pens in hand, listening to the Judge’s comments and scores for each Tower. Still Thrapston wasn’t mentioned. Then the third and fourth places were declared a tie, which only left Thrapston and Towcester to be named.
We were delighted to be placed second, with Towcester in first place by just a few short points, so congratulations to Team Thrapston; Ray Banner ,Chris and Frank Jenkins, Ted and Diane Buckby and Alison Byrnes.
Bell ringing is a way of calling communities together and so just before Easter we received a message from the Archbishop’s office asking for Bells to be tolled in support of Notre Dame Cathedral.
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It was shocking to watch the live TV coverage of Notre Dame Cathedral being ravaged by fire. Thankfully the Cathedral’s famous twin bell towers and their contents appear to be safe. Being ‘all things French’ the Bells at Notre Dame are hung in the continental way for chiming, not on the English System of ‘Full Circle’ ringing. A new Bourdon Bell, weighing 6,00kg was hung
in 2013 alongside ‘Emmanuel’ the Bourdon Bell of 1686 which weighs a hefty 13,271kg. For all those who know and love Paris, this is the one that booms out over the city and holds a special place in the history of Paris, including the Liberation in 1944.
The remaining thirteen chiming bells are now controlled by electric motors, not so much fun as Change ringing’ a la Anglais,’ but ‘Quasimodos ‘ were beginning to be difficult to find.
Not all the Tower Bells were tolled for
this event in Thrapston Branch as the message came on Maundy Thursday ,when by tradition our bells are usually silent until Easter Day, but Islip St. Nicholas’ Bell was rung to represent the Benefice and support the Archbishop’s request.
Bellringing is a fascinating exercise. If you are interested in finding out more about our lovely bells in St. James’ Benefice please contact Ray Banner for further information.
NEWS FROM
THE BELL TOWER
During the Arts Festival we will have 2 open sessions for people to come and see what bell ringing is all about, why the bells are rung and how it is done. You are welcome to come and visit us on the 1st June from 10am to 12 noon or Friday 7th June from 7.30pm to 9pm. Look forward to seeing you.
Ray Banner (Tower Captain)