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Bells may stop ringing at Yarmouth Minster

Bells may stop ringing at Yarmouth Minster

There are fears the sound of bells at the St Nicholas church in Great Yarmouth may soon be silenced because of a lack of bellringers

Marie Owen, one of the ringers, says the shortage has left the band barely able to cover practice sessions at the church, which is reputed to have among the finest bells in Norfolk

"We’re very short of people" she said. "At St Nicholas in Yarmouth, we’re lucky if five or six ringers turn up for practice, and that’s a tower with 12 bells. For an area with such a large population, it’s sad" 

Ms Owen, who began bellringing just before the pandemic, says the activity is far more social than people think. One Saturday in September, she rang the bells at three weddings in three different churches: Worlingham in Suffolk, Bradwell and Yarmouth Minster. “It’s a great way to meet people. We laugh, eat chocolates, and often go to the pub afterwards. It's definitely not just a solemn, religious activity" 

Bellringing is open to people of all ages, with current ringers ranging from eight years old to over 90.  "As long as you're physically able, anyone can do it," Ms Owen said, noting that the community aspect is a big part of what keeps her coming back

She is also tower captain at St Andrew’s, in Gorleston, and said other churches in the area were facing a similar struggle for ringers. At St Andrew's, the situation is compounded by the fact the tower is awaiting repairs, meaning ringing has had to be stopped

"We’d love to see more people join us and help keep this tradition going," said Ms Owen.  "Bellringing is good for both the body and mind, and it’s a way of giving back to the community" 



Story based on an article in Great Yarmouth Mercury, which you can read here