Bell Ringing at St Leonard’s Church

Looking for a new hobby? Why not try Bellringing at St Leonard’s?
If you’re looking for a fun new hobby, then Bell Ringing at St Leonard’s is fun, rewarding and sociable.

We welcome people of all ages who have a musical ear and a desire to learn. Bell ringers practice at Swithland on a Thursday evening at 8pm. When you first start, we’ll take you through the basics and whilst it can take some time to learn, it won’t be too long before you are joining in properly and learning ’rounds’.

On Sundays, the group ring at Swithland, Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves on rotation.

When required and available they ring at weddings.

To find out more contact Jan Beeby.

ST LEONARD’S CHURCH SWITHLAND BELLS A CELEBRATION WEEKEND Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th June     Following a long delay due to the pandemic, we are at last able to celebrate the refurbishment of our ring of six bells which took place in 2019. Please join us at one or all of the following events:  Saturday 11th June 2pm – 5pm   As part of Open Church, there will photographic displays of the Bell  Restoration Project from the initial fundraising, followed by the removal of the bells from the tower and finally the return of the bells in June 2019.  Tea, coffee and cakes will be served and you are welcome to visit the ringing chamber.   5pm – 7pm We are celebrating the return of the bells with drinks and nibbles, to thank all who gave so generously to the  project, raising a magnificent £25,000.  This includes individuals as well as various organisations who made donations and those who supported our various fundraising events.   Sunday 12th June 9.30am Our Annual Bell Ringers service during which we will give thanks for the success of the project and return of our bells.              We hope you are able to join us on this special occasion. RSVP to Janet Beeby, Tower Captain.    Click here or 01509 890805

• Bell Celebration Weekend

  What a wonderful time we had at the weekend and thank you to everyone who played a part in the celebrations.

  We were pleased that Graham from the Whites Bellfoundry was able to attend for the ‘rope ceremony’. This is the traditional way to mark the end of the restoration project when a new bell rope is passed over to the Church.

  

  There was a perfect start to the weekend celebrations with a successful peal on Saturday morning and an ‘open church’ event later that afternoon with a wonderful display of photographs documenting the restoration project. Thanks were also offered to Mr Marc Wainwright, one of our ringers, who has been ringing at St Leonard’s tower for over fifty years.

  

  There was a special ‘Ringers Service’ at 9.30am on Trinity Sunday and the bell rope was used as an interesting illustration of three in one. The bells were rung in the middle of the service as part of our act of worship which was an especially poingnant moment for our band of ringers and many of the congregation did too.

• First wedding of 2022

  It was a delight hearing the wedding bells ring out as we welcomed our first wedding couple of 2022 to the wonderful setting of St Leonard’s Church and we offer our congratulations to Mark & Faye as they embark on the rest of their lives together as man and wife.

  

  The service was conducted by our Acting Rector, Revd Colin Resch. The organist was Mr Paul Wilcox.

• Bell Ringing for VJ Day – 15 August 2020

  

  Whilst VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still involved in bitter fighting in the Far East. Victory over Japan would come at a heavy price, and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks the day Japan surrendered on the 15th August 1945, which in effect ended the Second World War.

  Fighting in the Asia-Pacific took place from Hawaii to North East India. Britain and the Commonwealth’s principal fighting force, the Fourteenth Army, was one of the most diverse in history – over 40 languages were spoken, and all the world’s major religions represented. The descendants of many of the Commonwealth veterans of that army are today part of multicultural communities up and down the country, a lasting legacy to the success and comradeship of those who fought in the Asia-Pacific.

  This year we remember the contribution of all Commonwealth and Allied Forces, without whom victory and the freedoms and way of life we enjoy today would not have been possible.

  To mark this occasion in Swithland, we will be chiming a bell seventy-five times just after a 2 minute silence is held at 11am on Saturday 15 August 2020.