A bell-ringing extravaganza has taken place at one of our churches as part of Bradford City of Culture 2025.
The special weekend at St James’, Silsden was blessed with great weather and visitors took turns to learn the ropes of a temporarily-installed Charmborough Ring tower.
Hand bells lessons were given inside the church during a Saturday which also featured a performance by the Bingley Handbell Ringers.
St James’ worshipper and expert bell ringer Deborah Thorley explained how she helped make the day happen: “I started when one of the Churchwardens informed me that the Mission and Outreach group had decided that the church could hold a bellringing event as part of Bradford City of Culture. I stupidly agreed to organise this!” said Deborah.
She contacted the Mobile Belfries Trust and publicity was circulated via the church newsletter, social media and emails. When the timings for the weekend were agreed, a more detailed poster was circulated using the same channels, and posters printed and distributed around the town.
The day began with outdoor assembly of the Charmborough Ring (a form of transportable mini belltower) and the inside of the church hall was decorated with bell bunting (made from retired choir robes).
During the day there was a quiz to try and match towers and bells, and there were bell shaped biscuits and buns decorated with bells to eat with the tea and coffee.
“A variety of people of all ages came to have a go on the bells, each receiving a sticker to show that they had ‘rung the bells’,” said Deborah.
“On Sunday, we just had one service, which was bell themed. The church was decorated with more bell bunting, the hymns were selected from those listed on the Bell Sunday website and the sermon was a brief history of the bells at Silsden followed by a showing of the YouTube ‘It’s harder than it looks’ which was filmed at Silsden.
Thanking all involved, Deborah said: “A weekend like this does not happen without help and support from others. I would like to thank the church members who helped with the coffee morning, who provided refreshments for the handbell concert, who co-ordinated the publicity, and who helped to put up and take down The Charmborough Ring.
“I would also like to thank the local ringers who came along to show people what ringing is all about. Thanks also to the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers for their grant towards costs.”
You may see the Charmborough Ring in action in St James' Facebook post here