Living or Dying
I suspect that as the years go by, ringers look back and see a golden age. A time when the church and the town welcomed ringing. The bells were rung for four services on Easter Day. The band was strong. The sons and daughters of ringers were happy to learn. The Branch meetings were fantastic occasions at which the tea flowed freely and the scones and cream were heaven and the attendance was high.
A tower captain was reflecting last Sunday how they don’t have a band now to ring on Sunday unless they can borrow from the Benefice, and you can only do that for special services because it’s not right to steal ringers who need to ring at their own Church.
Is ringing a dying art? The CCCBR will say no and that is the right attitude. The Ringing World maintains the faith week by week.
So keep ringing with joy and commitment for the Lord. And perhaps campaign to make ringing a compulsory curriculum module for Secondary education!
STEPHEN CAMPBELL