The bells play an important part in worship at St George’s Church. The bells are a registered war memorial to those from our parish who lost their lives in the First World War. The ten bells are fixed hemispherical, Ellacombe Chimes, by Mears and Stainbank in 1919.
The bells are played using a series of ropes on a framework in the Tower Room. The heaviest bell is called the tenor and the lightest bell is called the treble. The bells can play hymns, both traditional and modern, and peals.
Ellacombe Chimes were invented by the Revd. Henry Thomas Ellacombe while Curate at St Mary’s Church, Bitton (located between Bristol and Bath). It is said that Revd. Ellacombe devised the mechanism so that all the bells could be rung by one trusted person without involving a band of unruly and perhaps drunken ringers.
The bells were restored in 2013 in memory of Mrs Denise Collinson, by her Husband Mr John Collinson. The restoration work was undertaken by Taylors of Loughborough.
On 26 June 2021, there was a worldwide celebration of the 200-year anniversary of Ellacombe’s invention of the apparatus.
The bells are rung before and after the 9.30am Sunday Service, Weddings and Funerals. The bells are also rung for national events including the Ring For The King – Coronation for King Charles III.
There is no age restriction - supervision and training are provided. For further information please contact:
Dr Victoria Gibson, Tower Captain, drvgibson@outlook.com, 0792 1010 900
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