We ring the bells to announce that a service is about to take place in the church, to celebrate
weddings in the church and to mark and celebrate local and national events.
We are fortunate to have 8 bells in St Mary’s church the first of which date back to 1683. The final 3
bells were installed in 1938 and all have been in situ ever since.
The Church bells, their frame, bearings & pulleys have been subject to a great deal of wear & tear
over the last 87 years and, as such, are in need of restoration. The ringing band is currently busy
raising funds for this so that a specialised contractor can be appointed to carry out the necessary
work. Churches and their bells are part of our rich history and naturally, any work undertaken must
be meticulously planned and undertaken by contractors who are recognised for the quality and
success of their work. The full restoration is likely to cost in the region of £72K which presents a
challenge.
The current ringing band was formed in September 1999 and has been together since. We have
rung for every church service, wedding and many other events continuously since the inception of
the current band. We start ringing at 09.00 on Sunday mornings prior to the service and meet on
Monday evenings from 19.30 – 21.00 in order to practice and advance our skills.
In addition to regular ringing, we welcome new members or those who would like to learn to ring or
perhaps discuss ringing and observe us in action. We have tutors who are able to teach this ancient
art in the tower.
If you are interested in the bells and ringing, please contact the tower captain via the people & roles
section of this website: https://stmaryschurchgreatbentley.co.uk/peopleroles/
You will also find information on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/336890392997474
