News from the Bell tower February 2026

As the rain tips down outside, I'm thinking about the good things that are happening in the belltower. It was a delight on Sunday 25th January, to present Izzy with her Sharow Bellringers hoodie, and her certificate and badge for the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers. On Friday David, Wood and I will be going into Sharow School to present Izzy with her Level 1 Bell Handling certificate. Izzy started ringing in April 2025. Her dedication and determination to turn up to practice every Monday evening has been very impressive. She is now able to ring rounds with other ringers and is moving onto call changes. No mean feat. We are very proud of Izzy's achievement. She is a delight to have in the tower.
Philippa, who has been learning since December, is also making great progress and will soon be controlling the bell without assistance. We are very lucy that we have David, as Ringing Master, and Wood, as Tower Captain, who are excellent teachers, both for new ringers and those of us who are improving our ringing skills.
 
On the fundraising front, Wood and Rachel's marmalade is available in church, for sale in aid of the bell fund. We're also very grateful to the Schofield family, who have offered to fund the tenor bell in memory of Wood's parents. At a recent meeting of the Cleveland and North Yorkshire Branch of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers, we learnt we are to receive a grant of £750. All very welcome additions to the bells fund.
 
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of all concerned, we now have enough funding to instruct the church architect and structural engineer to produce working drawings for the bells project. Great News. These drawings will go towards our application for Faculty approval from the DAC, the governing body that gives permission for churches to carry out major works. It's the equivalent to applying for planning permission. Once we have Faculty approval, I can apply for grants to undertake the works. It's rather a long winded process, but all very exciting.
 
Together with Revd David and Sharow PCC, we have been working on an "Agreed Pattern of Ringing". This was ratified by the PCC on Monday 26th January. It has been agreed that the bells will be rung on Sunday for call to church; Monday from 6.30pm till 8.30pm for practice night and one other time during the month. All other ringing will be undertaken with the simulator. The full wording will be displayed in church on the bells notice board and on St John's Website.
 
To find out when the bells are being rung during February, please see the notices inside and outside church and on the website. A high light for February Half-Term is an Open morning on Wednesday 18th.  All are welcome, especially children. Come and climb the tower steps; see the bells in the belfry; have a go at chiming and watch the bells being rung. Expert tuition will be provided.
 
As ever, please get in touch if you like to support Sharow Bells Restoration or learn more about the bells. Children will be especially welcome on Wednesday morning during half-term.

- Bridget Taylor-Connor
Tower Correspondent
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