Bells down under

Just thought I’d check out the rings of bells in those faraway places I’m planning to visit, keen bellringer that I am!  In Sydney alone, including the Cathedral of St Andrew’s, there are two 12s, a 10 and two 8s.   Wow that’s quite remarkable considering the bells are made in England and shipped over. The tenor in St Andrew’s weighs a ton and a half.   For those of you who know nothing about the art of church bell-ringing, I will fill you in, but in the meantime I will point you to this link which you might find quite interesting and educational.  In Brisbane there’s a 16cwt 12 at the Cathedral of St John, practice Monday,  and a 7cwt 6 at St Andrew’s, practice Tuesday. New Zealand’s bells are too numerous to detail – 2 x 12s, 5 x 8s, 2 x 6s and a 5 with the Cathedral in Christchurch – 24cwt and the Cathedral in Wellington 27cwt.

Here is a link to Dove’s Guide which lists all the rings of bells in Australia and New Zealand.

There is a 12 1/4 cwt 6 in the Church of St Andrews in Cambridge, where I shall be staying at the start of my NZ adventure.  Sadly it is noted in Dove’s Guide that the tower is unsafe and the bells are unringable.  I wonder if this information is up to date.  I will check with Kay.  Kay’s response to this was “What!!!!!!????? I have heard them ringing many times.  What is Dove’s guide.  Rubbish!”   That is good to know Kay, I look forward to ringing at St Andrew’s!

Our happy band of ringers in Charlbury after we had rung in the New Year for 2011.  I had the honour of donging the midnight hour on the tenor bell! As you can see we had already been partying all evening!