All posts by Graham Darke

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Ringing in Wells

The three C-of-E churches of Wells
St Thomas’s Church – Wells Cathedral – St Cuthbert’s Church (left to right)
  • An introduction to ringing in Wells - Although it is the smallest city in England, Wells has three C-of-E churches, two of which contain bells that can be rung “English style” (seen left to right above). An active handbell group also meet regularly on Monday evenings and welcome new members. Ringing is currently organised by an active group of ringers called the … Continue reading An introduction to ringing in Wells →
  • Wells Cathedral Bells - “Noisiest of the unseen servants of the Cathedral, but least heard of, are the ringers.” Thus began a pamphlet entitled ‘Wells Bells’ – an extract from the Friends of Wells Cathedral report from 1971. Wells Cathedral has the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. The tenor bell, known as ‘Harewell’, weighs 56¼ cwt … Continue reading Wells Cathedral Bells →
  • St Cuthbert’s Bells - The bells at St Cuthbert’s are tuned to the key of Db, the Tenor bell weighing 27 cwt. The two oldest bells in St Cuthbert’s are 17th century: Tuned to G, the oldest bell (cast in 1664 by Robert II Austin) was found to be cracked in 1992 and is now displayed in the church. Its … Continue reading St Cuthbert’s Bells →
  • Handbell Ringing - Change ringing on handbells is traditionally performed by each person ringing two bells at a time – one in each hand.  The group at Wells regularly meet on Monday evenings, practicing anything from minor up to Plain Hunt Maximus. Quarter Peals and Peals are also regularly rung. New members are welcome to  approach us with … Continue reading Handbell Ringing →
  • Ringing in Wells this week

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Constitution

WABS Constitution

Wells Bellringers in 1888

This version contains updates to the constitution that was approved at the AGM on Friday 10th January 2020

  • Changes to the constitution at the AGM approved at the AGM on Friday 14th January 2022
    • In clause 8 (dealing with membership fees for Full members), change ‘by each member’ to ‘by each Full member’.
    • In clause 11 (now deleted) (dealing with membership fees for Friends), change ‘by each member’ to ‘by each Friend’.
    • In clause 12 (now deleted) (listing categories of people who might become Friends), delete ‘and committee members’.
    • In clause 12, delete ‘do not’ so that Life Members do have voting rights at general meetings.
  • Changes to the constitution approved at the AGM on Friday 30th January 2026
    • Removal of the friends category.

    Name

  1. The society shall be known as Wells Amateur Bellringing Society (WABS).

    2. Mission Statement

  2. We are a group of individuals who volunteer as church bell ringers to Wells Cathedral and to the Parish Church of St Cuthbert, Wells. We ring for services and other occasions as requested, striving to provide the best quality of ringing. We shall do all we can to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment in which members, visitors and those wishing to learn can pursue their own ringing aims.

    3. Membership

  3. Membership can be revoked, committee roles revoked and a member expelled for conduct which, in the opinion of the committee, is contrary to the aims of the Society or likely to bring the Society into disrepute.

    4. Full membership

  4. Full members shall be elected at an AGM
  5. To be eligible for full membership, a ringer must be able reliably to ring rounds and call changes without assistance.
  6. A full member has voting rights at general meetings.
  7. A full member is expected to ring regularly and frequently for services or on practice night. 
  8. A membership fee, defined annually at the AGM, shall be paid by each full member.
  9. Full membership can be revoked by an AGM if a membership fee has remained unpaid for a year, or if a member has failed to ring regularly and frequently for service in Wells. 
  10. A full member is expected to follow advice, guidance and regulations issued by the church(es) at which they ring, including (but not limited to) matters of safeguarding.

    11. Honorary Life membership

  11. The election of Honorary Life members is at the discretion of the AGM. 
  12. Honorary Life members have voting rights at general meetings.
  13. No membership fee is payable by honorary life members. 

    14. Meetings

  14. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in January to consider the accounts and conduct other business.
  15. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Committee with 14 days’ notice to members. An EGM must be called by the committee on receipt of a written request for an EGM from full members who would constitute a quorum at a meeting. 
  16. A quorum at an AGM or EGM shall be at least full 5 members, or 50% of the full membership, whichever is the least.
  17. Any change to the constitution must be approved by an AGM. The change is passed if two thirds of full members present and voting agree.
  18. Minutes of meetings shall be made available to full members. 

    19. Finances

  19. The Society shall hold one or more bank accounts.
  20. Any payment from the Society’s accounts should be authorised by two signatories from the committee. 
  21. The accounting period shall be from January 1st to December 31st.

    22. Officers and Committee

  22. The Officers shall be elected annually at the annual meeting.
  23. The committee shall meet at least twice each year, with minutes made available to full members. 
  24. Additional duties of Officers may be defined by the membership at the AGM.

    25. President

  25. One president shall be elected, and this will normally be the Vicar of Wells. 
  26. The president is not a member of the committee.
  27. The president’s responsibility, if present, shall be to chair general meetings. 

    28. Vice President

  28. Any number of vice presidents may be elected. 
  29. A Vice President is not a member of the committee.
  30. It is the duty of one of the vice presidents to chair general meetings if the President is absent.

    31. Leader / Ringing Master

  31. One Ringing Master shall be elected from the full membership list.
  32. The Ringing Master is a member of the committee. 
  33. The Ringing Master shall chair committee meetings, and is responsible to the committee for managing ringing sessions, and represent the society in other matters.

    34. Deputy Leader / Ringing Master

  34. One Deputy Leader / Ringing Master shall be elected from the full membership list.
  35. The Deputy Ringing Master is a member of the committee.
  36. The Deputy Ringing Master is responsible to the committee for managing ringing sessions in the absence of the Ringing Master.

    37. Treasurer

  37. One Treasurer shall be elected from the full membership list.
  38. The Treasurer is a member of the committee.
  39. The Treasurer is responsible to the committee for advising on the management of the society’s financial resources.
  40. The Treasurer is responsible for presenting the accounts to the AGM. 

    41. Secretary

  41. A Secretary shall be elected from the full membership list.
  42. The Secretary is a member of the committee.
  43. The Secretary is responsible to the committee for maintaining a list of current members, for minuting of General meetings.

    44. Co-opted Committee members

  44. A general or committee meeting may co-opt any number of full members onto the committee for specific functions and for defined terms.
  45. The duties of each officer shall be defined by the meeting at when they are co-opted.

    46. Disbanding the society

  46. The society may be disbanded at an AGM or EGM if at least two thirds of the full members agree.
  47. Any assets shall be divided equally between St Cuthberts PCC and the Chapter of Wells Cathedral.

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Mission Statement

WABS Mission Statement

Wells Bellringers in 1888

The ringing in Wells is organised through a society known as Wells Amateur Bellringing Society (WABS) that was formed on May 19th 1875. The Society is a group of individuals who volunteer as church bell ringers at Wells Cathedral and at the Parish Church of St Cuthbert, Wells.

The society rings for service and other occasions as requested, striving to provide the best quality of ringing.  We provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment in which members, visitors and those wishing to learn can pursue their own ringing aims.

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History

History of ringing in Wells

Wells Bellringers in 1888

Although Wells Amateur Bellring Society (or WABS as we are locally known) was founded in 1875, the first record of bells in Wells was in 1226 when Bishop Jocelin asked for bell ropes to be purchased for the Cathedral. At the time, the Bishop lived on south side of the cathedral in the newly built Bishop’s Palace and the Canons on north side (as they do now). Bells were therefore used to call the Canons to meetings at St Mary’s Chapel in the Camery Gardens.

A sacristan was soon employed for knollying the bells during prayers and Masses for the dead that became an important part of the Cathedral’s work in the chantry chapels.  The income from these bequests was an important part of the Cathedral’s income until the reformation.

Bells were added to and recast over many years during this period with the Dean’s yard used to dig a bell pit for each casting.  The current bells are based on a set cast in 1757 by Abel Rudhall – with the tenor having been recast in 1877 at a weight of 56¼ cwt and is the fifth heaviest bell in the world that can be rung “English fashion”.  Two more bells were added in 1891 to make the heaviest set of ten bells anywhere!!!!

After the restoration of King Charles II and the changes in the church due to the reformation, bellringing went through a revival and became popular, particularly with the aristocracy where it was – and still is – classed as an exercise. This did not last and was taken over by the “riff-raff” in the nineteenth century, with swearing, smoking and a barrel of beer in the belfry the norm.

Eventually the Oxford Movement in Victorian England started a reform of many aspects of the Anglican Church, including ringing.  It was in this atmosphere that many ringing societies (including WABS) were formed and ringing has been flourishing ever since.

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News

Bells on Sunday

Listen to Bells on Sunday from Wells, braodcast today
(5th January 2024)

Bells on Sunday comes from The Cathedral Church of St Andrew, Wells, in Somerset. The South West tower contains a peal of ten bells from three different founders, Mears & Stainbank, Abel Rudhall and John Taylor. They are the heaviest ringing peal of ten in the world. The tenor bell weighs just over fifty six and a quarter hundredweight and is tuned to the note of C. It is the fifth heaviest ringing bell in the world. We hear them ringing Stedman Caters.

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