Friday 11th October 2019, 8 pm, village hall
Lighthorne’s bells: “Five bells and a bucket”
Mike Rigby wasn’t interested in bells at all, but took the opportunity to chime Lighthorne’s then “unringable” bells for the Millennium. When the bells were re-hung in 2006, he answered the call for help doing the work and subsequently to learn to ring. He was “hooked”. He is now their Tower Captain, is a member of the Association of Ringing Teachers, and writes for and produces an on-line newsletter for learners, sharing his enthusiasm. He has helped several churches in the area to re-hang their bells and taught many people to ring. He has produced booklets and flyers on Lighthorne’s bells and learning to ring, the latest of which will be available at the meeting.
The association between the church and the sound of bells goes back well over a thousand years. While Lighthorne’s youngest bell could barely be called a teenager, the oldest bell is much older than the current church building, even pre-dating the reformation, and is listed as of historical interest. Mike will talk about this fascinating history and, of course, the history of the other bells in the tower. He will also show how tower bells are made and hung in church towers, explaining the effect that the reformation had on this. Consequently, a style of bell ringing developed which was unique to England. Mike will therefore also talk about the (sometimes unseemly) history of English-style change ringing.
