Hillsborough MP visits Church Bell Ringers in Support of Appeal

On Sunday 22 November Sheffield Hillsborough MP, Angela Smith, visited the church of St Mary the Virgin, Ecclesfield to meet the bell ringers and to support the Ecclesfield Peal Appeal. Angela was shown the church bells and learned about the history of the bells at Ecclesfield. The bell ringing team then demonstrated how the bells are rung and explained the principles of church bell ringing. Angela was also given information about the Ecclesfield Peal Appeal which was launched in October by the bell ringers in order to raise £60,000 for maintenance work and to purchase two additional bells. The additional bells will make St Mary’s one of the largest ‘rings’ in South Yorkshire.

Angela said,

“I was delighted to visit the bell ringers of Ecclesfield church; it was a real privilege to actually see the bells in operation. I was also amazed to find out that some of the bells date from Elizabethan times and have been in operation at Ecclesfield since then. I would like to offer my complete support to their appeal to raise £60,000 to improve these bells and make them one of the best sets of church bells in south Yorkshire. They’ve made an excellent start to the appeal but need much more, so I would encourage anyone who has a few pounds going spare, please consider helping them out.”

Phil Hirst, Tower Captain of St Mary’s bell ringers, commented,

“We are pleased that Angela was able to visit the tower and add her support to our appeal. In the few weeks since the appeal was launched, we have raised over £1500 which is a fantastic start. There is still a long way to go before our target is reached, but we are optimistic that we can raise the £60,000 needed and make a real legacy for the future of church bell ringing in Ecclesfield and South Yorkshire. We regularly ring bells that are hundreds of years old and we hope that with our efforts the tradition can continue to thrive for centuries to come.”

Donations to the Ecclesfield Peal Appeal can be made by writing to: The Peal Appeal Secretary, 11, Bedford Road, Oughtibridge, Sheffield S35 0FB.

Issued : 1 December 2009

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