Parish OfficeBell Ringing at St Wilfrids Church, Harrogate
The main idea is to broadcast locally that a service is about to happen in church. The fact that we enjoy the process of ringing bells, is a bonus. We aim to teach all who are willing to learn. We also try to improve the range of methods(tunes) we can ring. St Wilfrid's belongs to the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers, so we can be involved with other bands of ringers. We would welcome anyone who wants to join us,everybody learns at a different pace and there is no pressure to learn quickly, more an emphasis on enjoying the excercise of ringing the bells. by Kath Day
Belfry - St Wilfrid's Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9pm Practice
Sundays, 9:30 - 10am, Service Ringing
Should you wish to visit please contact Mr Mike Woodhall. Call the Parish Office on 01423 504629 in the first instance.
The pictures on this page show the bells following their recent rehanging with new headstocks and wheels (the six lightest bells were originally hung on two inch square bars). The bells are now easier to ring.
The bells of St Wilfrid's were cast and hung almost entirely by the inspiration of the late Ron Dove, famed for his Guide to the Church Bells. (Known as Dove's Guide).
A plan for bells at St Wilfrid's approved at the PCC meeting in March 1971 was for a light ring of 5 bells to be hung in the SE tower, with the existing Sanctus bell as the tenor. When the Architect's drawings were examined it was discovered that the central tower was designed to carry bells, and that the main girders to carry a bell frame were already in position.
With the degree of financial response from the people of the parish, and the structural problems with putting the bells in the smaller tower, it was then decided to aim at a heavier ring incorporating the present bell, and eventually an order was placed with Taylors of Loughborough for a ring of 6 bells in the key of C, incorporating the present bell as number 4.
These 5 bells were cast on November 9th, 1972, with a 6th bell for St Wilfrid's Church, Kirby in Ashfield, Notts.
A later offer of a 6th bell made it possible to leave the present Sanctus Bell undisturbed.
The metal for the bells of St Wilfrid's bells came from the derelict ring of bells from High Hoyland, which were made available for an ex gratia payment of £50, and the cost of demolition, transport, and legal charges. The rest of the metal for St Wilfrid's bells came from a number of other disused or redundant bells. So although the bells of St Wilfrid's are relatively new, the metal is far older and has been used to call people to worship for centuries.
The seats in the ringing chamber were donated by Father Jerome (RC), when the St Mary's Church Knaresborough were re-seated. The model bell was donated by the Leeds Parish Church ringers, and the looking glass came from the demolished church of St Mark's Lincoln.
The bells were dedicated on October 14th 1973. A ring of 6 bells, with a tenor of 6cwt, 13lbs. This, at the time of installation, was the 41st lightest ring of 6 in the world, and 1329th heaviest. The belfry has an area of 72 sq yds, and is the largest in the diocese, and at 82 steps, is one of the highest. The bells have been heard on Christmas bells programmes, Sunday morning bells, Songs of Praise, and Highway.
2 trebles, or lighter bells were added to the existing ring, and were dedicated in 1977, 60 yrs after the original plan to install a complete ring in the tower when the church was built in 1914.