All Saints' bells to peal for anniversary celebration

The bells of All Saints’ Church in Old Glossop will ring for nearly three hours on Monday 2nd November, to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers. 

Starting at 10am, eight bells will be rung continuously for more than 5,000 changes in a special performance by experienced ringers from across Derbyshire. 

The event will form part of a week of celebratory bell ringing taking place across the county from 1st November, involving 37 ringers aged between 11 and 83. 

A full peal requires eight ringers to memorise and follow a set pattern, changing the order of the bells more than 5,000 times without stopping. The last time a full peal was achieved at All Saints’ it took two hours and 56 minutes. 

The occasion is particularly significant for the church, as it will be only the 10th peal rung on its bells since they were replaced in 1923. The tower’s history dates back to 1844, when the church had six bells, with two more added in 1854. The current eight bells were installed in 1923 by bell founders Gillett & Johnston. 

Father David Ridley will be among those taking part in the anniversary celebrations. 

Following the morning’s ringing at All Saints’, the team will continue to St James the Great in Whitfield, before further peals at Fairfield and Stanton in the Peak. 

It will be the first time since October 2000, when the churches marked 2,000 years of Christianity, that All Saints’ and St James the Great have rung consecutive peals. 

Residents are welcome to enter All Saints’ to listen to the bells and see inside the church, with organisers saying the bench by the entrance offers a particularly good spot to enjoy the sound. 

The ringers are also encouraging anyone interested in learning more about the traditional art of English bell ringing to get in touch. 

The bells are rung using ropes and wheels, with each ringer responsible for controlling one bell and following the memorised sequence. 

Anyone interested in finding out more can visit the 'Old Glossop Bells' Facebook page.