A
ring of six small bells (7cwt) was donated by the benefactor Baroness
Burdett-Coutts and installed in the equally small tower at St James’
when the church was built in 1875. The ringing room was reached by a
vertical ladder against the wall and arrangements within the ringing
room made ringing difficult. As far as is known, the bells were used
fairly regularly until the early 1950s when loud-speakers were installed
in the tower, linked to a gramophone playing records. However, in 1985,
after some restorative work, a Quarter Peal was rung on the first anniversary
of the death of the Verger, Fred Welling (who was murdered).
In 1989 the whole ring was sold to St John’s, Whittington (Diocese of Lichfield) and a new, slightly lighter, ring (5 cwt) was cast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry - thanks to a donation from parishioner Mrs Jo Barton, in memory of her mother. They were installed later that year and “christened” by Father Geoffrey Marlow as Peter, Matthew, Philip and James (after the four churches ‘whose parishes are now united into the present parish’), Pamela Mount (in memory of the mother of Jo Barton, the Bell Captain) and Baroness Burdett-Coutts. The ringing room was refurbished at the same time, a more practical staircase installed as well as electrically-operated soundproof shutters, which are used during practice and other ‘non-service ringing’.
There has been an active band at St James’ since that time.
A group regularly meets before the Parish Mass to practise change-ringing on handbells - another fascinating aspect of The Exercise (as ringing is known).
The ringers warmly welcome visitors, either to join the ringing or just to see what goes on - St James’ is a good teaching band!
Practice night is Tuesday, from 7.45 p.m. till 9.15 p.m.
Ringing for Sunday Parish Mass is from 9.30 a.m. till 10.00 a.m.
Contact: vicar@stjamesislington.org