History: The bells of St. Swithun’s Woodborough have been rung for over 400 years. The current band continues this tradition of service and teaches new ringers to carry it onward into the future. Stephen Smith, the present Tower Captain, has records of peals and quarter peals, many of which may have been rung for services, weddings, funerals and village festivals or just for the pleasure of the challenge to the participants. The four bells were augmented by a fifth in 1985 and the first full peal of doubles in eleven methods was rung on 27th August of that year.

Above left from left to right: : Woodborough Bell ringers in 2000,

Steve Archer, Sandra Smith, Emma Bradley, Lucy Foster, Robert Newton,

Helen Vryenhoef, Andrew Bush, Christopher Drummond, Stephen Smith.

Above right: Ben Clark and Andrew Bush under tuition with Tower Captain Stephen Smith in 2000.

St Swithun’s Church - Bell Ringers

Since the above was written in early 2000, the ring of bells at St Swithun's Church have been rehung and augmented to six by the addition of a new treble made possible by a bequest from Mr Mansfield Foster. Details of the

augmentation are covered on page 105 - Church Bell Project 2008.

After 25 years, the ringers have changed; but Stephen Smith and Andrew Bush are both still ringing and have been joined by Simon Mellor after a recruiting drive in 2022 following the Covid pandemic. To ensure service ringing continues at St Swithun's, we have now joined with the band at St Wilfrid's, Calverton. Practice ringing and training of new ringers is now shared between the two churches and we can provide for service and wedding ringing at both towers.

We also take part in national ringing events, when ringers all round the country join together to celebrate or commemorate our combined heritage. For example, we rang for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6th May 2023, performing a call change sequence specially composed for the occasion. Most recently, we rang for VE Day on its 80th Anniversary on 8th May 2025.

Learning: If you would like to learn the art of bell ringing,we shall be pleased to teach you. Anyone from the age of about ten upwards can learn. Ringing does not require great strength, musical ability, or a mathematical mind; but a sense of rhythm and good co-ordination help. It is an enjoyable form of exercise combined with the satisfaction of gaining a new skill in an old English tradition. Acquiring the skill to handle a bell rope safely and to ring in time with the rest of the band usually takes several week’s practice.

Tuition is on a one-to-one basis at the start, usually on a muffled bell, and in a separate session from the main weekly practice ringing. Individual progress can vary widely; but we do try to have you ringing with the rest of the band within 4/6 weeks.

With the other ringers you progress to ringing rounds then call changes, when the order of the bells is altered on the conductor's command. After that you are ready to start on a voyage of discovery into the world of method ringing, with continuously changing patterns of sound.

Ringing for the King:  left-right: back row: Simon Mellor,

Amy Hodkinson, Kenny Quilty: front row: Douglas Pearse,

Stephen Smith, Andrew Bush, April Wood, Kerry Elliott.

Visits: You are welcome to come by arrangement and watch us ringing. Please expect to come either before the Sunday morning service at 9.20am (service starts at 10am) or on our practice night which is Monday evening from 7.30pm alternating between St Swithun's Woodborough and St Wilfrid's Calverton.

See below for contact email address.

More Information: If you would like to learn to ring the bells at either church, please email the Tower Captain, Stephen Smith, at stephen.smith@btinternet.com

Acknowledgement:

• Stephen Smith - This page contains updated information - May 2025

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