St Mary Abbots Bells
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The Bells
Under the tallest spire in London, Gilbert Scott provided an exceptionally spacious stone‐built tower which holds a fine, heavy Victorian ring of ten bells (and the clock mechanism) without any apparent strain. Towers with rings of ten bells are still relatively rare: there are currently less than two hundred and fifty towers worldwide with this number of bells. There have been bells at St Mary Abbots since before the beginning of the 18th century. The current ring of bells was hung when the Church was built, but in fact some of the bells pre‐date this building by many years. Although the records are not entirely clear, it seems the church had a ring of six heavy bells at this time. In 1772, the tower of the old church was rebuilt, and the bells were recast by Janaways of Chelsea and augmented to eight. There are peal boards in the tower which record some of the major achievements in ringing on these bells. When the Church was rebuilt in 1879, five of these eight bells were re‐hung in the new tower. The remaining three bells were recast by John Warner and Sons, and two new bells were added to make the current ring of ten bells. One peal board commemorates the first and last peals rung on the old eight, and the first peal of bells rung on the new ten. |
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New Chiming Bell
In addition to these bells a small bell was acquired in 2007 and recently installed in the tower to be chimed by the Virger prior to services when the other bells are not rung. The chiming bell was cast by the Whitechapel Foundry in 1853, is 34 inches in diameter and weighs approx 7cwt.
In addition to these bells a small bell was acquired in 2007 and recently installed in the tower to be chimed by the Virger prior to services when the other bells are not rung. The chiming bell was cast by the Whitechapel Foundry in 1853, is 34 inches in diameter and weighs approx 7cwt.
The St Mary Abbots Guild of Bellringers
The St Mary Abbots Guild was founded in 1896, and the Guild has records of ringing going back for more than a century.
In common with many other Towers, the enforced silence for church bells during the Second World War caused a hiatus in ringing by the Guild, but since something of a revival in the 1970s, the Guild has again been very active.
We ring regularly for Sunday morning and evening services, not just at St Mary Abbots, but at a number of other London churches as well. We also ring for special occasions, Church festivals and weddings.
St Mary Abbots Guild of Bellringers - Committee Members
Philip Goodyer, Sam Cave - Ringing Masters
David Holdridge - Secretary
Ian Blake - Treasurer
Stephanie Pattenden - Steeple Keeper
Janet Archibald - Assistant Steeple Keeper
Learning to Ring or Progressing to Ten Bell Ringing
As with many other London churches, the band relies heavily on ringers from all over the London area, and indeed in some cases from outside London. We would very much welcome both parishioners interested in learning to ring, and ringers with experience on six and eight bells who would like to progress to ten bell ringing. Visitors, whether ringers, those interested in learning to ring, or people who would just like to see the bells being rung are very welcome.
Please contact a member of the Committee for details.
The St Mary Abbots Guild was founded in 1896, and the Guild has records of ringing going back for more than a century.
In common with many other Towers, the enforced silence for church bells during the Second World War caused a hiatus in ringing by the Guild, but since something of a revival in the 1970s, the Guild has again been very active.
We ring regularly for Sunday morning and evening services, not just at St Mary Abbots, but at a number of other London churches as well. We also ring for special occasions, Church festivals and weddings.
St Mary Abbots Guild of Bellringers - Committee Members
Philip Goodyer, Sam Cave - Ringing Masters
David Holdridge - Secretary
Ian Blake - Treasurer
Stephanie Pattenden - Steeple Keeper
Janet Archibald - Assistant Steeple Keeper
Learning to Ring or Progressing to Ten Bell Ringing
As with many other London churches, the band relies heavily on ringers from all over the London area, and indeed in some cases from outside London. We would very much welcome both parishioners interested in learning to ring, and ringers with experience on six and eight bells who would like to progress to ten bell ringing. Visitors, whether ringers, those interested in learning to ring, or people who would just like to see the bells being rung are very welcome.
Please contact a member of the Committee for details.
St Mary Abbots Bells - Sunday Morning Service Ringing
The St Mary Abbots Guild of Bellringers ring regularly for Service every Sunday at three churches. These are:
St Mary Abbots from 8.45 to 9.30 a.m.
St Luke, Chelsea from 10.10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
St Stephen, Rochester Row from 11.00 to 11.30 a.m.
Visitors are welcome to join us for general ringing at any or all of the above.
St Mary Abbots Bells - Regular Ringing
What length of ringing to expect
Ringing on Sunday mornings consists of short pieces of continuous ringing known as "touches". These can go on for as little as three or four minutes, and as long as 20 minutes. Ringing for Church services is the most important part of our mission, and we try to make it as smooth and musical as possible. The brief halts between touches allow the ringers to change places with each other, so that different people can ring in each touch.
Practice nights also consist of short touches. They are an opportunity for the ringers to try new things as well as perfecting their skills. As a result, the ringing is sometimes a little bumpy. Nevertheless, we still try to maintain a reasonable standard, and to stop the ringing promptly if it is not going well.
Quarter Peals consist of around fifty‐five minutes to an hour of continuous ringing. You may hear the band ring "rounds" (when you hear the bells sound in scales) for a few minutes beforehand, followed by a pause before the quarter peal starts. This pause is to enable the band to adjust the length of the bell ropes before ringing for a longish period without stopping. If we are ringing for a service, then we may ring a short touch immediately before the service starts, if the quarter peal has finished a few minutes early.
The Band has a programme of quarter peals at the four churches we serve. As a general rule, the Band attempts the following quarters on a regular basis:
St Mary Abbots, Kensington - for Evensong on the first, second and fourth Sundays of each month St Stephen, Rochester Row - for Evensong on the third Sunday of each month St Luke, Chelsea - for Evensong on the fifth Sunday, if there is one, of the month
Peals at St Mary Abbots consist of around three and half hours of continuous ringing (the time is generally shorter at other towers with a smaller ring of lighter bells). A peal is not considered to be "true" unless the ringers have rung more than 5000 unique changes correctly, and without breaks or outside assistance. Again, you may hear some rounds beforehand, as the ringers try out the length of the bell ropes and decide whether adjustments are necessary.
There are up to six peal attempts every year at St Mary Abbots.
These are:
The anniversary of the Queen's Accession to the Throne in February
Easter
Ascension Day
The Patronal Festival
The Anniversary of the Foundation of the Parish of St Mary Abbots in October
Christmas Eve.
The number of peals is limited out of consideration for neighbouring homes and businesses, but we try to allocate two attempts each year to visiting bands of ringers. If you would like to apply to arrange a visitors' peal, please contact a member of the Committee.
Unfortunately, peals at St Luke, Chelsea and St Stephen, Rochester Row are very limited, owing to the state of the bells and, in the case of St Luke, the proximity of a local hospital. It is not possible to arrange for visitors' peals at these towers, but if you would like to take part in a peal attempt by the local band, please contact a member of the Committee for information.
The St Mary Abbots Guild of Bellringers ring regularly for Service every Sunday at three churches. These are:
St Mary Abbots from 8.45 to 9.30 a.m.
St Luke, Chelsea from 10.10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
St Stephen, Rochester Row from 11.00 to 11.30 a.m.
Visitors are welcome to join us for general ringing at any or all of the above.
St Mary Abbots Bells - Regular Ringing
What length of ringing to expect
Ringing on Sunday mornings consists of short pieces of continuous ringing known as "touches". These can go on for as little as three or four minutes, and as long as 20 minutes. Ringing for Church services is the most important part of our mission, and we try to make it as smooth and musical as possible. The brief halts between touches allow the ringers to change places with each other, so that different people can ring in each touch.
Practice nights also consist of short touches. They are an opportunity for the ringers to try new things as well as perfecting their skills. As a result, the ringing is sometimes a little bumpy. Nevertheless, we still try to maintain a reasonable standard, and to stop the ringing promptly if it is not going well.
Quarter Peals consist of around fifty‐five minutes to an hour of continuous ringing. You may hear the band ring "rounds" (when you hear the bells sound in scales) for a few minutes beforehand, followed by a pause before the quarter peal starts. This pause is to enable the band to adjust the length of the bell ropes before ringing for a longish period without stopping. If we are ringing for a service, then we may ring a short touch immediately before the service starts, if the quarter peal has finished a few minutes early.
The Band has a programme of quarter peals at the four churches we serve. As a general rule, the Band attempts the following quarters on a regular basis:
St Mary Abbots, Kensington - for Evensong on the first, second and fourth Sundays of each month St Stephen, Rochester Row - for Evensong on the third Sunday of each month St Luke, Chelsea - for Evensong on the fifth Sunday, if there is one, of the month
Peals at St Mary Abbots consist of around three and half hours of continuous ringing (the time is generally shorter at other towers with a smaller ring of lighter bells). A peal is not considered to be "true" unless the ringers have rung more than 5000 unique changes correctly, and without breaks or outside assistance. Again, you may hear some rounds beforehand, as the ringers try out the length of the bell ropes and decide whether adjustments are necessary.
There are up to six peal attempts every year at St Mary Abbots.
These are:
The anniversary of the Queen's Accession to the Throne in February
Easter
Ascension Day
The Patronal Festival
The Anniversary of the Foundation of the Parish of St Mary Abbots in October
Christmas Eve.
The number of peals is limited out of consideration for neighbouring homes and businesses, but we try to allocate two attempts each year to visiting bands of ringers. If you would like to apply to arrange a visitors' peal, please contact a member of the Committee.
Unfortunately, peals at St Luke, Chelsea and St Stephen, Rochester Row are very limited, owing to the state of the bells and, in the case of St Luke, the proximity of a local hospital. It is not possible to arrange for visitors' peals at these towers, but if you would like to take part in a peal attempt by the local band, please contact a member of the Committee for information.
St Mary Abbots Bells - Practices
Thursday Evenings at St Mary Abbots
The St Mary Abbots Guild holds regular practices at St Mary Abbots every Thursday evening from 7.30 to 9.15 p.m. There is a variety of ringing on ten bells, from call changes to ten spliced Surprise. The Band is usually working on at least one new method.
Visitors are very welcome to attend and join us in ringing, but should be aware that the main aim of the practice is to help the regular Sunday Service ringers maintain as high a standard as possible for Sunday Service ringing.
The entrance to the tower is in an alley immediately to the north of the church. Go through the metal gate at the east end of the building, past the vestry door, and the tower stairs are through a small door on the left at the base of a buttress. Alternatively, please contact a member of the Committee for information.
Cancelled Practices
Practices are very occasionally cancelled or curtailed because of other ringing or events. Please check the Practice Night Information page, or contact us in advance to avoid disappointment.
Thursday Evenings at St Mary Abbots
The St Mary Abbots Guild holds regular practices at St Mary Abbots every Thursday evening from 7.30 to 9.15 p.m. There is a variety of ringing on ten bells, from call changes to ten spliced Surprise. The Band is usually working on at least one new method.
Visitors are very welcome to attend and join us in ringing, but should be aware that the main aim of the practice is to help the regular Sunday Service ringers maintain as high a standard as possible for Sunday Service ringing.
The entrance to the tower is in an alley immediately to the north of the church. Go through the metal gate at the east end of the building, past the vestry door, and the tower stairs are through a small door on the left at the base of a buttress. Alternatively, please contact a member of the Committee for information.
Cancelled Practices
Practices are very occasionally cancelled or curtailed because of other ringing or events. Please check the Practice Night Information page, or contact us in advance to avoid disappointment.
St Mary Abbots Bells - Information for non‐ringing Visitors
You do not have to be a ringer to visit the St Mary Abbots tower and see the bells being rung. Visitors are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings when we ring from 8.45 to 9.30 and on Thursday evenings when we practice from 7.30 to 9.15. The tower is on the North side of the Church,
When you visit, please be aware that ringing is more difficult than experienced ringers make it look. It requires concentration to ring well, and indeed distracting someone who is ringing can be positively dangerous, since there is a very heavy bell on the other end of that flying rope. We therefore observe some simple rules in the bell tower, to ensure both safety and good ringing:
• Never go further up the tower than the ringing room (where the ringers stand) without one of the ringers to guide you.
• Stand well back from anyone who is ringing to avoid becoming entangled in the ropes.
• Whilst ringing is going on, avoid talking, moving around or making a lot of noise.
• Do not take photographs using a flash, as this can be distracting.
If ringing is going on when you arrive, do feel free to slip into the ringing room and sit down on a nearby bench to watch. We will say hello properly when we've finished ringing!
Perhaps you've wondered about learning to ring yourself. If so, please get in touch. We'd love to recruit some new ringers.
You do not have to be a ringer to visit the St Mary Abbots tower and see the bells being rung. Visitors are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings when we ring from 8.45 to 9.30 and on Thursday evenings when we practice from 7.30 to 9.15. The tower is on the North side of the Church,
When you visit, please be aware that ringing is more difficult than experienced ringers make it look. It requires concentration to ring well, and indeed distracting someone who is ringing can be positively dangerous, since there is a very heavy bell on the other end of that flying rope. We therefore observe some simple rules in the bell tower, to ensure both safety and good ringing:
• Never go further up the tower than the ringing room (where the ringers stand) without one of the ringers to guide you.
• Stand well back from anyone who is ringing to avoid becoming entangled in the ropes.
• Whilst ringing is going on, avoid talking, moving around or making a lot of noise.
• Do not take photographs using a flash, as this can be distracting.
If ringing is going on when you arrive, do feel free to slip into the ringing room and sit down on a nearby bench to watch. We will say hello properly when we've finished ringing!
Perhaps you've wondered about learning to ring yourself. If so, please get in touch. We'd love to recruit some new ringers.
The PCC of St Mary Abbots with Christ Church and St Philip is a Registered Charity : Number 1132235