Bell Tower news : October 2025

Church was full to bursting on Saturday 20th September for a joint fundraiser for Sharow Bells and the Half Moon Pub Group. The Roosters Ceilidh Band played some cracking tunes, the refreshments were fantastic and the church was decorated with bunting and fairy lights. A really brilliant community event that raised the profile of the bells project and vital funds. On Saturday 13th September St John's held a wonderful Heritage Open Day event. Inviting folk up the bell tower to try out the bells and learn about ringing. We had nine visitors.  A mother and son, a Cathedral bell ringer with her sister and husband, a couple of St John's congregants and an intrepid young mother with her baby! I've been Wild Swimming, attending funding training course and writing grant applications.  It's all go! The next fundraising event is a Gala Dinner on Friday 28th November. A 4 course dinner, with soprano Charity Schofield. (See the poster in “Save the date” below for details.)
I've met with the architect Ian Hayton, Alison Gilchrist a stain glass window specialist and Ian Johnson a carpenter. All resulting in moving the project forward. Slow, but steady progress.
We've been ringing too. Highlights have been ringing half -muffled bells for VJ day and Wood's successful Quarter Peal, rung for David and my 10th wedding anniversary. 


Wood has written a piece about activity in the tower, which continues to grow in various directions.


" Our numbers at Sunday morning Call to Church vary from 3-7.  Our Monday Practices attract anything from 7-15 and our Wednesday morning Silent Practices typically hold 5-7 ringers.  What a joy, this Summer, to ring for two village weddings. On 21st September,  thanks to two visiting ringers,  we had 8 bells ringing for Call to Church. Our number of learners has increased.  Izzy (aged 9) has been coming since midsummer.  Her mother reports that she really enjoys it.  Izzy is now ringing both strokes (hand stroke and backstroke) together and practicing to ring in rounds 1,2,3,4,5,6. Charlie has also joined us. He wanted a new hobby. Saw the info on the ceilidh flyer and got in touch. Our regular ringers are making progress too.  We are a short distance away from having our own band who will be able to ring Plain Bob Doubles. A method of ringing that involves all the ringers changing the place that their bell rings following a fixed pattern. Since launching @sharowbellringers on Instagram, 23 reels (short films) have been released in the past 10 weeks. One piece involving a dice was the most viewed! Our intention is to upload other,  longer films,  on YouTube.
 David Bell, our Ringing Master, and myself continue to ring at other towers,  including Pickhill,  Kirklington and the Cathedral.  I arrange and visit ‘First Fridays’ of most months at other towers in Wensleydale. On 10th October from 7pm till 8.30pm visiting ringers will be coming to St John's. I also attended a gathering at Knaresborough tower organised by the Leeds Branch of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers.
In short, our ringing at Sharow is strengthening as we attract new ringers, while we continue to increase the ability and skills of our regular band."


 There are some special days coming up, most excitingly ringing for the Licencing Service of our new Priest Rev David Paton-Williams on 14th October, 7.30pm . Information when the bells are to be rung is displayed on the noticeboards inside and outside church and on St John's Website.


If you'd like to know more about the bells, how we're progressing on the marketing strategy or join us up the bell tower, please get in touch.
Best wishes and happy listening.


Bridget Taylor-Connor 
Tower Correspondent 07752981346 [email protected] https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/appealforapeal   Sharow Bellringers on Facebook

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