Archived News from 2008
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Christmas Ringing
Although we did not hold our usual practice nights on 23rd and 30th December, we did do quite a bit of ringing over the Christmas period. We rang the bells for the Christingle Service on Sunday 21st, the Christmas Eve Service of Carols, Christmas Day Morning Service on 25th and the Sunday Service on 28th.
Open Days - 6 and 7 December
To coincide with the Christmas Tree Festival 2008 we allowed the public access to the tower on the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday. Many people climbed the 42 tower steps to the ringing chamber and some even went up the ladder to the bell chamber to visit the bells.
We would like to thank everyone who came to see us and hope that you enjoyed the experience, we were very pleased to meet and chat with you as what we do is seldom seen by anyone. Please come and see us again when you hear the bells ringing, don't wait for another open day.
09/11/2008 - Remembrance Sunday
On Remembrance Sunday we always ring the bells half muffled.
Leather pads are fixed to each clapper but only on one side. As the bells swing in one direction, the side of the clapper without the pad will strike the bell normally, as the bells swing back, the side of the clapper with the pad will strike producing a quieter muffled sound. It produces a lovely quiet echo reserved for solemn occasions.
We rang the bells half muffled prior to the morning service from 9.15 to 10.00.
We rang a half muffled Quarter Peal of 1260 Plain Bob Triples in 50 minutes prior to the evening service, to commemorate the fallen on the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1.. More information about the quarter peal.
02/11/2008 - Quarter Peal for All Souls
The Sunday Service Band rang a quarter peal prior to the 4.30pm service in remembrance of All Souls. In 47 minutes we rang 1260 changes of Plain Bob Triples. More information about the quarter peal.
01/11/2008 - Sheffield Branch Meeting at Cawthorne
Some of us joined other Sheffield Branch members of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers for a morning of ringing at All Saint's, Cawthorne. From 10.30 to 12 noon we enjoyed our chance to ring on the 6 bells in this lovely village. Afterwards we had a quick coffee at Cannon Hall Garden Centre then rushed back to ring our bells for a 2pm wedding.
31/10/2008 - Bolsterstone
On 31st October we had an evening out ringing at Bolsterstone. We were trying to perfect one of our methods and an evening of intensive practice at Bolsterstone Church helped us to do that. Afterwards we adjourned to the Castle Inn.
26/10/08 - Quarter Peal
The Sunday Service band rang a quarter peal prior to the Evening Service on 26th October. In 44 minutes we rang 1260 changes of Plain Bob Minor on the front 6 bells. We submitted this quarter peal to the Ringing World magazine with the following footnote: For Evensong and In happy and affectionate memory of Frederick J. Jackson. Fred was a well known ringer from the Doncaster area who passed away earlier this week.
This link provides more information about the quarter peal.
17/10/08 - Quarter Peal at Handsworth
On Friday evening 17th October, 6 Ecclesfield ringers joined by 2 ringers from 2 other Sheffield towers rang a quarter peal at St Mary's, Handsworth. In 47 minutes we rang 1372 changes of Plain Bob Triples. Afterwards we spent some time and money in the Cross Keys pub. This link provides more information about the quarter peal.
11/10/08 - Sheffield Branch Ringing Meeting
On Saturday afternoon, some of our team along with others from towers throughout Sheffield and Rotherham met for ringing and tea at St Mary's, Beighton . Afterwards, evening ringing was at St James, Barlborough.
05/10/08 - Quarter Peal for Harvest Festival
On Sunday 5th October, Harvest Festival, a Quarter Peal was rung before the evening service by members of the Sunday Service band. In 43 minutes on the front 6 bells the team rang 1260 changes of Plain Bob Doubles.
04/10/08 - Ringing Visitors
On Saturday 4th October Ecclesfield Tower welcomed ringers from New Mill, West Yorkshire, who were on a ringing outing in our area. After ringing at Ecclesfield they were off to Holy Trinity, Wentworth.
25/09/08 - Quarter Peal
In the morning on Thursday 25th September, ringers from the South Yorkshire area plus one of our ringers rang a quarter peal as a retirement compliment to Rev. T Leach, former Curate at Ecclesfield in the 1960's. The team rang 1260 Plain Bob Minor (a 6 bell method) with 2 cover bells therefore using all 8 bells.
06/09/08 - The Ringing Roadshow
3 of our team attended the Ringing Roadshow held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. The show included seminars, handbell concerts, advice centres, Mini-rings, carillon, sets of church bells in their frames by the bell foundries and bell hanging companies, dozens of exhibitors, and several open church towers in the area.
24/08/08 - Quarter Peal
On Sunday 24th, a Quarter Peal was rung before the evening service by the Sunday Service band. In 46 minutes using all 8 bells. 1260 changes of Plain Bob Triples were rung from 5.30pm to 6. 16pm. In the run up to the service we rang a course of St Simon's Triples. Details here.
17/08/08 - Quarter Peal
On Sunday 17th, a Quarter Peal was rung before the evening service by members of the Sunday Service band. In 43 minutes on the front 6 bells, 1272 changes of St Clement's Minor were rung from 5.30 to 6.13pm. In the run up to the service a touch of Plain Bob Minor was rung on the back 6. Details here.
15/08/08 - Quarter at Barlborough
On Friday evening, 5 of us and 1 ringer from St Mary's Beighton, had an evening out and rang a Quarter Peal at St James Barlborough, Derbyshire. Starting at 7.40 we rang 720 changes of St Simons and 540 changes of Plain Bob Minor. 1260 changes altogether. Details here
St James church, Barlborough, Derbyshire
Following the ringing we visited The Treble Bob public house at Barlborough. Treble Bob is a belllringing term and the pub does have a bell logo.
10/08/08 - Quarter Peal
The Sunday Service band rang a quarter peal prior to the Evening Service. On the front 6 bells 1260 changes in 4 doubles methods were rung in 43 minutes. The methods were: St Simon's, St Martin's, Plain Bob and Grandsire.
02/08/08 - Sheffield Branch Ringing Meeting
The Sheffield Branch of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers held their monthly meeting at Ecclesfield on Saturday. Ringers from the Sheffield and Rotherham area and the Ecclesfield ringers rang the bells to a variety of methods from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.
22/07/08 - Ringing on Holiday
2 Ecclesfield ringers on holiday joined the practice night at St Mary's, Ambleside, in the Lake District on Tuesday 22nd July.
18/07/08 - Whirlow Grange Residential Course
Held every year, this residential course for bell ringers runs from Friday evening to late Sunday afternoon and uses towers in the Sheffield area for the practical sessions. Each bell ringer is tutored in a method of their choice and then provided with tower-based practical sessions. On Friday evening 18th July Ecclesfield tower played host to some of the students on the course. A group and a team leader held a practical session concentrating on a bell ringing method. The bells were rung from 7.45pm to 9.00pm.
07/06/08 - Sheffield Branch Ringing Meeting at Bradfield
Ringers from Ecclesfield joined other Sheffield Branch ringers at Bradfield on Saturay evening. The 8 bells at St Nicholas' Church were rung to a variety of methods in the early evening sunshine. Those not ringing just enjoying the views and the atmosphere. Summer ringing meetings really are great fun, especially if to you have a pint in the pub at the end.
24/04/08 Bishop Jack's Evening Service
We rang the bells from 6.45pm to 7.30pm prior to Bishop Jack's visit for an evening service on Wednesday 24th April. This will probably be Bishop Jack's last visit to St Mary's as Bishop of Sheffield before his retirement in June.
05/04/08 - Sheffield Branch Ringing Meeting in West Yorkshire
7 Ecclesfield ringers joined other ringers attending the YACR Sheffield Branch ringing meeting in West Yorkshire. We rang at Christ Church New Mill (6 bells) and Holmfirth (8 bells).
23/03/08 - Easter Sunday Quarter Peal
Easter and the Easter Sunday evening service were marked by the Sunday Service band with a quarter peal. 1260 changes in 5 doubles methods were rung in 45 minutes on the back 6 bells. The methods were Reverse Canterbury, St Simon's, St Martin's, Plain Bob and Grandsire.
16/03/08 - Palm Sunday Quarter Peal
The Sunday Service band rang a quarter peal prior to the Palm Sunday evening service. On the back 6 bells 1260 changes in 4 doubles methods were rung in 44 minutes. The methods were: St Simon's, St Martin's, Plain Bob and Grandsire
12/03/08 - Ringing visitors
At 1.00pm on Wednesday 12th March Ecclesfield Tower welcomed ringers who had come together from various areas of Yorkshire.
07/03/08 - Annual Dinner
Ecclesfield ringers joined by their families held their annual dinner at Staindrop Lodge Hotel in Chapeltown.
02/03/08 - Mothering Sunday Quarter Peal
The Sunday Service band marked Mothers Day by ringing a quarter peal prior to the evening servce. On the back 6 bells 1260 changes of Grandsire Doubles were rung in 44 minutes.
09/02/08 - Barnsley and District Society of Change Ringers
Members of the Society met at Ecclesfield on Saturday evening and rang the bells to various methods from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. The area covered by the Barnsley and District Society is the area within a 12 mile radius of St Mary's Church Barnsley. Ecclesfield is therefore a Barnsley Society Tower. More information can be found by using this link.
06/01/08 - Epiphany Quarter Peal
The Sunday Service band rang a quarter peal prior to the Epiphany evening service. On the front 6 bells 1320 changes of Single Oxford Bob Minor were rung in 43 minutes.