Devizes church bells to ring in unison for 125th anniversary celebration
Ringers of all ages will participate on Saturday 17th October
Residents of Devizes will experience a unique event on Saturday morning, 17th October, as four church towers ring their bells simultaneously for nearly an hour.
The occasion marks the 125th anniversary of the Devizes church bellringing guild, not four weddings.
More than 40 bellringers from the area will participate, showcasing their skills from various towers before the main event.
Starting at 10.30am, 28 ringers will perform a ‘quarter peal’ at St John’s Church, St Mary’s, St James Southbroom, and St Mary of the Virgin Bishops Cannings.
Vanessa Tanner, mayor of Devizes, will officially launch the ringing at St John’s.
The ages of these ringers range from 12 to 84 years.
The church bell ringers are members of the Devizes branch of the Salisbury Diocese Guild of Ringers (SDGR).
Formed in 1901, the Devizes branch was established to promote excellent standards of bellringing, focusing on the complex 'methods'—the tunes played by church bells.
Covering market towns and villages like Melksham, Bradford on Avon, and Warminster, the branch is one of the largest in the Guild.
The SDGR spans nine branches from Marlborough to West Dorset, and recently added the Channel Islands.
With 241 current members, the Devizes branch continues to welcome new ringers of all ages and backgrounds.
Bellringing is a traditional British practice involving bells that swing through a full circle, each controlled by ropes running over wheels.
Following the ringing, branch members will gather for a commemorative photograph at St John’s Church, echoing the centenary celebration held in 2001.
Those interested in joining the bellringing community can contact their local tower or the Devizes Branch.