There is a magnificent ring of twelve bells in our church tower - the only church in Kent, other than Canterbury Cathedral itself, with this number of bells; a number usually found in cathedrals and great city churches, and very rare indeed in a country parish.
The art of English change ringing is our special and unique national music, just as the bagpipes are for Scotland, or the male voice choir of Wales. Our local band is struggling to survive - we now commonly ring four or five bells only on Sundays - out of a ring of twelve! The bells are well used as a centre of advanced training and performance for proficient ringers from all over Kent and Sussex, on the first and third Fridays of each month - but this does not help us for local Sunday service ringing or weddings.
Ringing is a musical craft practised by anyone aged 8 to 80, men and women in roughly equal number . It does not require great strength - about the same amount of physical effort as walking. It does require an initial commitment, as does any other musical instrument, to learn to handle a bell safely with the necessary skill - a small number of sessions of individual tuition. It remains a fascinating and, to many, fairly addictive skill, to learn the art - perhaps midway between music and dancing - to strike and weave one's bell through the complex musical patterns of change ringing.
Ringers are a strong freemasonry; once you can handle a bell, you are always welcome in any of the 6000+ ringing towers of the UK, Ireland, US, Aus./NZ - and like all shared skills and pastimes, there is a strong social bond; few better ways of gently raising an honest thirst! No religious affiliation or belief is required - indeed ringing for church services was actually banned as "popish" for the first few centuries of the art, and only became normal after about 1850. Also, it is about the least expensive pastime there is - both equipment, and training, are free! There are perhaps not all that many such pastimes, enjoyed by parents and children together on equal terms, as ringing is.
We are always most happy to give anyone a tour of the tower and a try at handling a bell. Ring me on 240083, email rodericklebon@hotmail.com - or just come up the tower on a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening if you hear us ringing. If it isn't for you, perhaps you know someone it might be for?
It would be a huge tragedy if our wonderful bells were to fall silent on Sundays - and that is where they are now rapidly heading, if nothing is done. Please think whether you, or someone you know, could join the band and prevent this.
Rod Lebon
Events
Iden Green and Benenden WI
Tue 18th Feb, 2pm
Delia Taylor's Memories of Desert Island
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Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company - NOW
Sat 22nd Feb, 7pm
Latest creation by choreographer Jasmin
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Bingo at St George's Club
Sat 22nd Feb, 8:15pm
Come and enjoy an evening with friends
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Mobile Library in Benenden village
Tue 25th Feb, 10am
Pick up the fortnight's reading
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Benenden Symphony Orchestra Film Music - Free concert
Fri 28th Feb, 7:30pm
Music from Dambusters, Gladiator, James
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In Conversation with Davina McCall
Sat 8th Mar, 5pm
Celebrating International Women’s Day
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Benjamin Grosvenor - Pianist
Sun 16th Mar, 3pm
Sonorous lyricism & keyboard brilliance
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