{"id":1634,"date":"2026-04-04T00:01:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T23:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellsbells.org.uk\/?p=1634"},"modified":"2026-04-12T19:10:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:10:59","slug":"history-of-ringing-in-wells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellsbells.org.uk\/index.php\/2026\/04\/04\/history-of-ringing-in-wells\/","title":{"rendered":"History of ringing in Wells"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wells Bellringers in 1888<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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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\u2019s Palace and the Canons on north side (as they do now). Bells were therefore used to call the Canons to meetings at St Mary\u2019s Chapel in the Camery Gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sacristan was soon employed for knollying the bells during prayers and Masses for the dead that became an important part of the Cathedral\u2019s work in the chantry chapels.  The income from these bequests was an important part of the Cathedral\u2019s income until the reformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bells were added to and recast over many years during this period with the Dean\u2019s yard used to dig a bell pit for each casting.  The current bells are based on a set cast in 1757 by Abel Rudhall \u2013 with the tenor having been recast in 1877 at a weight of 56\u00bc cwt and is the fifth heaviest bell in the world that can be rung \u201cEnglish fashion\u201d.  Two more bells were added in 1891 to make the heaviest set of ten bells anywhere!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 and still is \u2013 classed as an exercise. This did not last and was taken over by the \u201criff-raff\u201d in the nineteenth century, with swearing, smoking and a barrel of beer in the belfry the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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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 … Continue reading History of ringing in Wells<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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