Saturday, February 16, 2013

More from Harpenden-- a Feat of Bell-Ringing

From the Parish Notes section of The Harpenden Parish Magazine, March 1914, written by the formidable rector Kean M. Pitt:

The ringers were present at a short, simple but very reverent service, when the tablet commemorating the fact that a Peal of Grandsire Triples was rung in this Church by them, in 2 hours 57 minutes. This means, that in the whole of that time with 5040 changes taking place, no slip was made; for a slip means utter confusion. When one remembers, that swinging in the air is a total weight of over four tons, controlled by the Ringers, it is an accomplishment to be proud of. I was very pleased and gratified by a kindly deed on their part, showing, I take it, that between the Ringers and the Rector there is a real bond of good feeling and mutual respect. This was, the presentation to me, of a beautifully framed photograph of the Ringers, with the tablet in the centre. I shall value this greatly. Really, how greatly, kindly encouraging acts of this sort, oil the wheels of one's daily task. At the same time a similar presentation was made to Mr. David Dellar, who is secretary for the Guild of Ringers, and has been a ringer himself for 30 years.

Of course, they are all dead ringers now. God bless them all!

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