Ranmoor Ringers - Outings - Summer 2015

Outings - Summer 2015

	Ranmoor Ringers Outing to York
Saturday 18th July 2015	While sitting in the York Museum gardens on a sunny Saturday morning sketching the Greek portico with my wife Mary reading beside me, Nick, Gill and David of the Ranmoor Band appeared on the horizon waving vigorously. It was time to start our York bell ringing adventure. Four towers were visited, starting with
	St Olaves, Marygate, York, 6, 9-0-14 in G Grid Ref SE598521 Lat, Long 53.96222, -1.08925 Postcode YO30 7WH 10:15 - 11:00 St Olave is dedicated to St Olaf the patron saint of Norway. The church was founded about 1050 by Earl Siward of Northumbria, the Danish warrior who apparently defeated Macbeth. This fact was recorded by Shakespeare, thus creating yet another question to be mulled over by English Literature examinees. The church was rebuilt in the 15th century, repairs carried out in the 1720's, restored in 1848/49 and a chancel added in 1889 and further extended in 1906. Some of the stonework, particularly on the tower, is poor. There are 6 bells all cast in 1789, each of which is inscribed 1789 Dalton maker York replacing the earlier bells installed in the 15th century. The bells were rehung in 1988 by Taylors. A new band was formed which received help from Ron Dove the creator of the first eight publications of the iconic Doves Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Our band of ten arrived punctually to ring at 10.15 with no one to welcome us. Apparently our host was shopping and thought it was 10.30. Whilst waiting, we explored the surrounds of the church which set off alarms, and a tannoy with siren stating we had been filmed and police arrival was imminent. Our host informed us that the alarm was always being set off by the wind and in true British style nothing happened. The ropes were lowered, bells rung up in peal and a very enjoyable session commenced. Rounds, changes and methods were rung, watched by a number of tourists and passers by, as the bells were rung from the church floor; a beautiful church well worth a visit. The church backed on to the museum gardens, which was our route to the next ringing destination.
	St Wilfreds, Duncombe Place, York, 10, 18-1-21 in F Grid Ref SE601521 Lat, Long 53.96179, -1.08462 Postcode YO1 7HE 11:15 - 12:00 St Wilfred's is built in the Gothic revival manner, (I prefer the term Gas Pipe Gothic), and completed in 1864. The church was built to be a Catholic Cathedral and has a completely different feel to that of St Olave. The tower is 147ft high and when walking up from the bridge it appears to dominate the Minster. There are ten bells which were added to the tower in 1995. We were met on time by the tower captain and asked to ring for an extra 15 minutes to call the worshipers to mass. The belfry is approached up a spiral stone stair, or is it a helical stair? The belfry is slightly larger than Ranmoor and the ring, though heavier, is very similar and enjoyable to ring. Changes and methods were rung after which we all went our separate ways for lunch, to rendezvous for 1.15 pm at our next destination.
Lunch
	All Saints, North Street, York, 8, 7-2-2 in A Grid Ref SE600517 Lat, Long 53.95839, -1.08646 Postcode YO1 6JD 13:15 - 14:00 All Saints is located next to the Ouse and was founded in the 11th Century, the present building being from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The most impressive external feature is the octagonal tower, and internally the medieval glass windows, one of which depicts the fifteen signs of the end of the world. On arrival the church seemed to be in some disarray with an archaeological dig to one side, clergy bustling around preparing for the mass, and three members of the choir practising under the ropes. We were met by the tower captain who explained some of the quirks of the eight bells, the choir was moved and the ropes lowered, bells rung up in peal and ringing commenced with rounds, call changes and methods. With the two external doors open, creating a throughway to the dig, the bells being rung from the church floor for the mass, completely open to the congregation, and a number of bystanders watching us ring, it was all a little confusing. Becky then led us to her home tower, passing the former church of St John Ouse Bridge, now a bar, which has 9 medieval bells, 3 of which are owned by St Lawrence, our next port of call. After walking past some hideous 60’s architecture, our band was led via the very long scenic route by the river and back streets to
	St Lawrence, Lawrence Road / Hesslington road, York, 8, 7-3-24 in A Grid Ref SE611512 Lat, Long 53.95386, -1.06908 Postcode YO10 3BN 14:45 - 15:45 The original church of St Lawrence was badly damaged in the siege of York, rebuilt in the restoration, finally demolished in 1881/3 and re built by Victorian architect J B Hall of Canterbury. It is the second largest church in York, the Minster only being larger. The spire was added in 1891/3, the original tower still stands as a separate entity on the site. The church was gifted eight bells by the bell ringers of York in 1999 to mark the millennium. They were cast in 1947, 1988 and 1999 and hung by Taylors. Four of the bells originally hung in Charrington’s Brewery, London. Each bell was christened, treble to tenor St Helen, St Edward the Confessor, St Andrew, All Hallows, St Catherine, St Michael, St Nicholas, St Laurence. Climbing up a tight stone stair one accesses a compact carpeted ringing chamber. Each window in the tower has a deep reveal with a low cill allowing ringers to sit out, very useful after our long walk. We were confronted by the 1737 bell, which used to hang in the tower of the old church. The ropes were dropped, bells rung up in peal, rounds, call changes and methods; a very satisfying ring.
	Before departing for home and going our separate ways, a group photo was taken. For me, it was a most enjoyable and privileged day, to ring at four such diverse and interesting historic towers. Thank you to Gill for being our leader and organising the day so efficiently. Attending band members – Rebecca Holloway, Janet Else, Richard Noble, Will Rumsey, Leslie Middleton, Nick Harrison, Gillian Platt-Hopkin, Robert Guttridge, Ben Newsam and David Williams. Robert Guttridge July 2015
	Location information from Dove's online Guide (http://dove.cccbr.org.uk)

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