EXCLUSIVE: Witchampton bells will ‘Ring for the King’

Report and photo by Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Throughout the country plans are being made to ‘Ring for the King’ for the Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May.

In the parish church of St Mary, St Cuthberga and All Saints Church in Witchampton, they are particularly excited as seven of the ringers are relatively new to bell ringing.

However, they are all hugely enthusiastic and committed and imbued with a tremendous community spirit.

Tower captain Suzie Rose, who together with her husband Michael has been a bell ringer for 30 years said that for two-and-a-half years they had been without bell ringers, until in October 2021 some villagers said they would like to see the return of ringing in this picturesque village.

Suzie said that it takes a few months for new ringers to get control of the bells.

“They need some sort of rhythm and determination, and it is definitely team work.”

They ring for the monthly service in the church, as well as every Sunday morning and practice evenings on Wednesdays.

What made the new bell ringers join this team activity, which dates back more than 400 years?

“My friend Camilla Culley and I were walking through the village and talking about our daughters, both of whom are getting married in the church this year,” said Philippa Connor, “and we said it would be nice if the bells rang again. So we approached Suzie and said we would like to have a go. Now it gives me such a buzz. As a former teacher it’s good for me to learn something for the first time. It certainly tests the grey matter and it’s a team thing.”

Richard Thorne said: “When a group of friends were talking about it I wanted to join them and for the bells to ring again. I failed in my efforts initially but now I’m getting there.”

And Tim Read said: “Witchampton is very special, a parochial treasure and we are all able to give each other support.”

Fiona, Tim’s wife added: “It’s a challenge, but we all like a challenge and Suzie gives us so much guidance. Now we’re all hooked. And we even won a novice competition, which took place in Shroton last July. That inspired us.”

In addition to Richard, Tim, Fiona and Philippa and Camilla, the other ringers are Tony Lock and Dan Cully.

The bells date back to 1776 and so they have been rung for services and special occasions in Witchampton for over 200 years.

Suzie said: “Ringing is a service to the church but it is also a wonderful hobby, ranging from basic to almost unlimited complexity so there is something to suit everyone.

“We have six bells and our biggest bell, the tenor, weighs in at almost half a ton. In the year 2000 a very successful appeal was launched to raise funds to have the bells and mechanism completely refurbished and they were returned from the Whitechapel bell foundry, for the first time ever, accurately tuned.”

Suzie added that the new ringers are an enthusiastic and loyal band.

She said: “As tower captain I am responsible for coordinating practice evenings and liaising with the volunteers who come out from Wimborne Minster to teach and supervise them. I am on board at every practice to help the tutors and generally ‘hold the threads together’ so we act as a cohesive band. I also am responsible for ensuring we always have a band of ringers for weddings so I liaise with wedding couples and the clergy.

“We are truly grateful for the expertise and dedication of the Wimborne ringers, without whom this initiative would never have got off the ground.”