Join our bellringing team for a tower tour at St Wilfrid Harrogate at our Christmas Fayre on Sunday 15th December, one of the highest vantage points in Harrogate town! Have a go at ringing the bells and find out about the history of Grade I listed St Wilfrid’s.
We’ll show you the ropes!
The St Wilfrid’s Tower Tours are a now well established highlight of Heritage Open Days in Harrogate and are always busy, so make sure you email us in advance to reserve your place. The tour involves walking up over 80 steep stairs, part of which is a stone spiral staircase, so this tour is not for anyone who doesn’t like heights or enclosed spaces. The view once you are in the tower is worth the trip, with views over Harrogate town centre to the south and the hills to the north. Let our experienced bellringing team show you how to ring the bells and explain a little about the history of bellringing at St Wilfrid Harrogate. Refreshments are available in the hall after your tour. Recommended for ages 8+.
Tower tours will take place at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Spaces are limited, so please reserve your space by contacting Rebecca Oliver on 01423 504629 or by email bookings@stwilfrid.org
The tower tours involve over 80 steep steps and a narrow spiral staircase, and are not suitable for people with limited mobility or fear of heights or enclosed spaces.
Church bells are rung to call people to worship, commemorate life events such as weddings and funerals and even for national commemorations such the Coronation of King Charles III. At St Wilfrid’s we have a full peal of eight bells which are rung by a team of bell ringers.
Arrival of the bells in 1973
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the original six bells on 14th October 1973 by the Dean of Ripon. When the church was built in 1914, there was only one bell which now serves as the Sanctus bell which is rung at the consecration at Mass. It was always intended to have full peal of bells; but this took nearly sixty years to be realised. It was finally achieved under the direction of Ronald Dove, a renowned bell historian, who was a member of the congregation at that time. The bells were recast from the redundant bells from the now closed High Hoyland church, near Wakefield. Four years later the remaining two bells were added.
Bells set for Ringing
Over the years bell ringers have come and gone – there must have been over a hundred people who have learned to ring at St Wilfrid’s over the years! We had a strong band before the COVID pandemic, but after we were down to only a couple of ringers due to others retiring or moving away to university. This year we trained up a new band and we were able to ring for the Coronation. It is usual to hear five or six bells ringing every Sunday and different changes (tunes) are rung as the band develops.
Ringing for the Coronation of King Charles III on 6th May 2023
We are always keen to hear from anyone who may be interested in learning to ring our bells. You don’t need to be physically strong or musical; but are able to work as a team and enjoy taking on new challenges. If you wish to get in touch with us, please click the contact link at the top of the page.
October 2023, Ringing to commemorate 50th Anniversary of Dedication of Bells
The Coronation weekend began with a Festival Mass at St Wilfrid’s on Friday evening, for which we rang before. The band consisted of Mike Woodhall, Jonathan Wilson, Shirley Morris, Mick Foster, Beth Pettifer, Andy Griffiths, Anne McGinley, Andrew Ellis and Jessica Wood. Mick, Beth, Andy and Anne had learned to ring for the Coronation. The five minute service bell was rang by Dillan Foster.
On the Coronation day (Saturday 6th May), the bells of St Wilfrid’s, St Peter’s, Beckwithshaw and Birstwith were rung. This is the first time that bells of St Peter’s and St Wilfrid’s were rung for a coronation, because the bells did not arrive until 1963 and 1973 respectively. The only church in Harrogate to previously ring for a coronation would have been the original St Mary’s in 1902 for Edward VII, shortly after which it was demolished and replaced by a new church where the bells were hung for chiming only.
The bells of St Wilfrid’s were rang before the Coronation service. The band included Mike Woodhall, Shirley Morris, Andy Griffiths, Sally McDonagh, Bethany McDonagh, Anne McGinley, Jonathan Wilson, Heather Kennedy, Andrew Ellis, Beth Pettifer, Jessica Wood and Mick Foster.
The Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey was shown live at St Peter’s, after which the bells of St Peter’s were rung. The ringers were: Hannah Beck, Penny Bell, Andy Guthrie, Coralie Thornton, Jessica Wood, Heather Kennedy, Gary Andrews, Fiona Weare, Jonathan Wilson, Philip Crawshaw, Monica Strawn, Michelle Anderson, Chris Davies, Veronica Ace and Peter Anderson.
The bells were then rung down and some of the children (all aged 4 to 9) tried their hand in chiming the bells
In the afternoon, we rang at St Michael’s Beckwithshaw. The band were Jon Bryant, Raymond Darwent, Hannah Beck, Jane Mayfield, George Mayfield, Jessica Wood, Alistair Adams, John Craven, Beth Pettifer, Heather Kennedy, Jonathan Wilson, Andrew Ellis. Jane, George, John and Alistair have been learning to ring for the coronation.
The day finished at Birstwith with Hannah Beck, Heather Kennedy, Jessica Wood, Raymond Darwent and Jonathan Wilson making up the band. The ringing included Plain Hunt on 5 bells and also calling rounds straight into Queens (24135), Kings (42135) and Weasels (14235) as is the local custom.
Harrogate towers have traditionally helped each other in all major ringing, and also any local tower which is short of ringers. With Jessica, Heather and Jonathan having rung at all four towers have indeed scored a “Royal Flush”!
On Monday 8th May was Big Help Out day. two touches of Plain Bob Doubles were rung at St Peter’s. This is the first time touches have been rung since the COVID pandemic, as we have prioritised teaching new learners. A Touch of 720 was rang by the following band: (1) Jessica Wood, (2) Jonathan Wilson, (3) Michelle Anderson, (4) Gary Andrews, (5) Hannah Beck (C), (6) Andy Guthrie. The second touch of 360 was rang by the following band: (1) Michelle Anderson, (2) Jonathan Wilson, (3) Gary Andrews, (4) Andy Guthrie, (5) Hannah Beck, (6) Chris Davies.
Our bells will ring out for the Coronation of King Charles III. Our bands will include our new ringers who joined us through our recent Ring for the King recruitment campaign. This post will be updated when exact times are confirmed.
Friday 5th May
6.15pm ringing at St Wilfrid’s, before the 7pm Coronation Festival Mass in church
Saturday 6th May (The Day of the Coronation)
10am Ringing at St Wilfrid’s
The Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey is expected to start at 11am and may be watched in public at St Peter’s Church or in Valley Gardens. An order of service with commentary may be found here.
After the Coronation Service (expected to finish some time between 12pm and 1pm) there will be ringing at St Peter’s. In addition to the ringing by our band, there will be an opportunity for non-ringers to chime the bells.
3pm Ringing at Beckwithshaw 4pm Ringing at Birstwith
Sunday 7th May
Normal Sunday ringing times 9am and 10.30am St Peter’s 9.30am St Wilfrid’s
Have you ever considered taking up bell ringing? Are you a lapsed ringer who may be interested in taking up the hobby again?
Many churches are currently seeking new bell ringers in order to make sure they have sufficient numbers of ringers to fulfil ringing requirements around the King’s Coronation in May and beyond.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a churchgoer in order to take up bell ringing. It can be seen as a hobby, a social activity which has both physical and mental benefits. There are no age restrictions – we have ringers from 11 up to 80 – although young ringers have to be tall enough to reach the ropes and may need an adult to accompany them. Ringing can be used as a service activity or as a hobby in conjunction with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme or similar programmes requiring a level of development and commitment.
Bell towers usually practise on one weekday evening and, once competent, you may wish to ring on Sunday mornings before Church services, or for weddings or other special occasions – such as the forthcoming King’s Coronation. It’s a good way of keeping fit, meeting new people and doing something for your local community. There is no cost and full training will be given. It usually takes several weeks for a learner to become competent and be able to ring without help. For more information, please visit the following pages:
So, if you feel that you would like to give bell ringing a go, there are several churches in the local Harrogate area who would welcome new ringers, especially St Wilfrid’s church on Duchy Road, St John’s church in Knaresborough, and the churches in Beckwithshaw, Hampsthwaite, Spofforth, North Rigton, Kirk Deighton, Goldsborough and Birstwith
To make contact with the local bell ringing groups covering these churches, please use the contact form below and let us know your email address or phone number and which church you would like to try bell ringing. You will then be contacted by the tower and given details of practice times and dates. You can be assured of a warm welcome.
Bell Ringing in Harrogate 