The St.Chad's bellringers ring for services every Sunday from 9.30 to 10.00 am and from 6.00 to 6.30 pm. The team practice every Friday evening from 8.00 - 9.00 pm.

Nick writes:

Would you like to come ringing? I'm going. It'll be great!

We have eight bells which were cast in 1741. If you're younger than the bells, we'd like you to come and learn how to help us ring them.

I learned to ring when I was fourteen and it has been my principal leisure time interest ever since. I have several ringing friends who learned as adults. We enjoy meeting each other and we enjoy ringing the changes as physical and mental exercise and as an ancient skill which has been practised in England since the 1630's. Like those of churches all across the country, our bells ring out at times of personal, religious and national celebration. Our ringing is part of our Christian worship, part of our contribution to the life of our nation and, for many couples who were married in Poulton, it was part of what we hope will continue to be your long and happy marriage.

Attached to this message, you will find a picture of the band who rang the bells to celebrate accession. You will recognise, from left to right, front to back, Mary Kay, Olive Barrett, Franky Rodwell, Lynne Brackpool, Helen Kay, Norma Jeffrey, Graham Wilkinson. In the second picture are : Olive Barrett, Cindy Peters, Lynne Brackpool, Heather Harkness , Helen Kay, Mary Kay, Nick Harrop, Paul Steele, Franky Rodwell

Ringing Remembers
This Remembrance Sunday I had the shared honour of ringing the tolling bell. Throughout this solemn and emotive experience, I feel the weight of the responsibility; my focus is on the ringing and getting it right. I haven’t done this type of ringing before, I’m a novice and I’m not alone.

There had been a year-long nationwide recruitment of bell ringers. The aim was 1400, the same as the number of ringers who died during World War 1. Beyond expectation, this succeeded in bringing over two and a half thousand new ringers to bell towers throughout the country. I was very proud to be one of the handful of new recruits at St. Chad’s.

The plan was for new ringers to be involved in commemorative ringing to mark the Centenary of Armistice. Nationwide the joyous ringing to celebrate peace began at 12.30, all of St. Chad’s’ new and several experienced ringers were squeezed into the tower. Soon all eight bells were sounding out.

Having rung at Poulton, we travelled to St. Anne’s church. After making made our way up the spiral stone stairs we all, novice and old hands, had the pleasure to ring for the people of Singleton.

To be welcomed into the ringing community with such warmth, to be a part of the Ringing Remembers initiative and involved in ringing on Armistice Day I am very thankful. It’s been an uplifting experience. I feel part of a team, part of the wider community and grateful that we can ring the bells here in freedom and peace.

Pauline Taylor