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Original poster

Church bells

434 replies

Isxmasoveryet · 17/11/2024 09:08

Am i being unreasonable to think churches should not be aloud to ring those damn bells for hours on end a few times a week it not very christain disturbing neighbours etc for several hours

OP posts:
Canaryringer · 19/11/2024 08:47

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:12

Again, I'm really sceptical that that was happening most nights and going on for hours, and also for hours at the weekends. The movement of bells puts quite a strain on the structures they are in because they can weigh several hundredweight; Parish church councils restrict how long people are allowed to ring for; and there just aren't that many keen ringers. Plus on Saturdays and Sundays they tend to be using the church for weddings and church services, and they definitely don't allow ringing whilst services are going on.

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People do not seem to realise the difference between humans ringing the bells ( one evening a week plus sundays and extras) and CLOCK CHIMES which are automatic and go off every 15 minutes for about 5 seconds each time, sometimes though the nights. Most people get used to this and like it but some of course complain and get it stopped. Ringing by real ringers does have fairly strict controls on time and length.

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/11/2024 08:38

Sausagenbacon · 19/11/2024 08:31

to be honest, if we stopped doing anything that disturbed someone, what would we do?
Perhaps the boot is on the other foot and people should learn tolerance. That's how a civilised society works. There's plenty of things I find disturbing but I'm not the centre of the universe, so I don't feel my needs should be catered for.

This.

Sausagenbacon · 19/11/2024 08:31

to be honest, if we stopped doing anything that disturbed someone, what would we do?
Perhaps the boot is on the other foot and people should learn tolerance. That's how a civilised society works. There's plenty of things I find disturbing but I'm not the centre of the universe, so I don't feel my needs should be catered for.

Gloriia · 19/11/2024 08:10

Isatis · 19/11/2024 08:04

Because that would mean losing a centuries-old art and tradition?

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They could still have the bell sounds, just recorded. What is wrong with that? Stopping the hours of practising that clearly disturb some people.

Many churches if not most, have recorded organ music nowadays not an organ player. Works fine.

Times change and traditions can be updated.

Isatis · 19/11/2024 08:04

Gloriia · 19/11/2024 07:59

Instead of all the disturbing practising I wonder why they don't just install speakers and play recorded bell ringing?

Because that would mean losing a centuries-old art and tradition?

Isatis · 19/11/2024 08:01

SnowballandSnowflake · 18/11/2024 23:21

Maybe if you talk to the church there might be some sort of way they can do something to help if it is causing you a problem.
They would probably be able to change the way the bells ring.
The church near me rings the bells to let everyone know what the time is.
The one in Luton town centre chimes a little tune every fifteen minutes.
Sorry to hear it is causing you a problem.

Edited

They don't flog up the tower every hour to ring the bells to tell people the time. They have a mechanical clock that chimes.

Gloriia · 19/11/2024 07:59

Instead of all the disturbing practising I wonder why they don't just install speakers and play recorded bell ringing?

Sausagenbacon · 19/11/2024 07:42

It's very complicated. More like maths than anything. Also very satisfying when you get it right

Glittertwins · 19/11/2024 05:23

@Isatis - I had no idea it was so complicated!

caringcarer · 19/11/2024 03:09

Isxmasoveryet · 17/11/2024 09:13

Due to circumstances didnt have a choice on location and was unaware they would ring for several hours at a time due to anxiety and stress it drives me mad and at times feels like torture last Sunday was 5'5 hours of it non stop it over 3 hours twice a week

If it upsets you so much why not move?

MotsiBallas · 19/11/2024 02:27

I live near a mosque and the call to prayer is several times a day, every day. Starting at 5am. Just put up with it or move.

Jillybloop393 · 19/11/2024 01:01

Okay .... the bell ringing stops completely - will you then be happy? No, because I'm guessing there'll be something else that irritates you. You have other issues in your life, and that's a shame - but stop trying to blame it on the church bells. You're being very unreasonable.

SabreIsMyFave · 18/11/2024 23:57

CameraGown · 18/11/2024 09:11

Must admit I once stayed in Shifnal next to a church and the bells went off hourly, even overnight. That seemed excessive.

Ummm that would be the CLOCK CHIMING! 😂

Mookie81 · 18/11/2024 23:53

EmmaMaria · 18/11/2024 20:06

Gosh, it's amazing that the church has a strong enough structure and enough campanologists to do that for several hours a week. They might stop if you learn how to spell "allowed".

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Kick someone while they're down, why don't you?

Genevieva · 18/11/2024 23:40

Yet to reframe your thinking about them, seeing as you can’t influence the situation any other way. I enjoy hearing church bells. They remind me of my childhood: the welcoming call to run to Sunday school while my Mum went to church, weddings, festivals, the feeling of relief at the end of a church service when I’d been sitting still and behaving for what felt like an age, but could now get up and run around. English church bells are unique. It takes a lot of skill and a lot of practice to make that quintessential sound.

Mookie81 · 18/11/2024 23:34

HelenWheels · 17/11/2024 09:57

there are some mean posters on here

Mumsnet is full of scumbags nowadays, who don't bother to read threads and post as nastily as they can.

SnowballandSnowflake · 18/11/2024 23:21

Maybe if you talk to the church there might be some sort of way they can do something to help if it is causing you a problem.
They would probably be able to change the way the bells ring.
The church near me rings the bells to let everyone know what the time is.
The one in Luton town centre chimes a little tune every fifteen minutes.
Sorry to hear it is causing you a problem.

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:19

Canaryringer · 18/11/2024 23:08

Usually down the pub by then...

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Exactly! Half the point of getting together for ringing is buggering off to the pub in good time before they close.

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:18

katepilar · 18/11/2024 20:26

Could someone please explain to me why they need to practise this much?
Are most UK bells still rung manually? Are any rung automatically with electricity?

Have a look at these instructions for ringing Bob Doubles, which is probably the first and most straightforward method that most people learn. Each of those numbers represents the order in which one of the ringers in the team has to ring their bell - they don't show the 6th bell because that always rings last.

Perhaps that illustrates why a lot of practice is needed?

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:12

BooBooDoodle · 18/11/2024 19:26

A local church in our town was given specific times to practice as the majority of the neighbourhood complained that much it got taken to the town hall for a vote. Having heard the bells myself when visiting family, there is no way I could have tolerated it. What a disorganised racket and for hours most nights. You would have a different view if you lived there with babies that needed sleep or like most in our town, many are on back shifts with our local ship yard. The bells were sent away for refurbishment which took 7 years in total due to astronomical costs which were raised by fundraising , lots of houses in the area were sold because agents told them there were no bells in the church tower. That was true at the time but for the last 6 years they’ve been catching up on the years missed practice they went without. They get Saturday and Sunday for a few hours.

Again, I'm really sceptical that that was happening most nights and going on for hours, and also for hours at the weekends. The movement of bells puts quite a strain on the structures they are in because they can weigh several hundredweight; Parish church councils restrict how long people are allowed to ring for; and there just aren't that many keen ringers. Plus on Saturdays and Sundays they tend to be using the church for weddings and church services, and they definitely don't allow ringing whilst services are going on.

SnowballandSnowflake · 18/11/2024 23:11

You would miss the church if it got pulled down.

Canaryringer · 18/11/2024 23:08

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:04

Likewise. No-one wants to piss the neighbours off so much that the vicar has to stop ringing from happening, and frankly after a day's work no-one really wants to be out that late or ringing that long.

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Usually down the pub by then...

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:04

Canaryringer · 18/11/2024 18:24

As a ringer I have never known ringing going on past 9pm

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Likewise. No-one wants to piss the neighbours off so much that the vicar has to stop ringing from happening, and frankly after a day's work no-one really wants to be out that late or ringing that long.

Isatis · 18/11/2024 23:03

Oldnproud · 18/11/2024 16:03

I think it could easily be if it is like our church - a lot of people turn up for practice (can see that from the number of cars parked there), so I presume that it isn't the same people ringing non-stop, but people swapping around and taking turns. It still adds up to many hours of continuous bell ringing to be heard from outside.

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I very much doubt that practice goes on for several hours routinely. They might occasionally have special events when ringers from other areas are invited along to try the bells, but there just aren't enough dedicated ringers around to sustain that on a regular basis.

Aligirlbear · 18/11/2024 22:56

Isxmasoveryet · 17/11/2024 09:08

Am i being unreasonable to think churches should not be aloud to ring those damn bells for hours on end a few times a week it not very christain disturbing neighbours etc for several hours

Guessing the church and its traditional were already fully established before you moved in ?