Church bells ring out to mark historic project

New bells have been added to a Melksham church, marking the completion of one of the tower’s most significant projects.

The peal at St Michael’s Church has been expanded from eight to ten bells and was recently dedicated by the Rt Revd Andrew Rumsey shortly before leaving the Diocese. The bells were first rung together as a full ring of ten in January, with a dedication service held last month. The first quarter peal on the new bells was rung later that evening.

Plans to increase the number of bells were first discussed more than 20 years ago but gained momentum following the coronation of King Charles III and the centenary of the current bells, which were cast in 1924.

Ringers wrote to the Palace to ask if the Royal Cypher of King Charles III could be included on two new bells. Bell-ringer Chris Bush said, “We were told that we could incorporate the Royal Cypher as long as the order to cast the bells was placed in the year of the coronation.”

One of the new bells was installed in memory of well-known Melksham bell-ringer Eric Hitchins, who died in 2022.

The second bell was donated by the Keltek Trust, an organisation based near Melksham dedicated to preserving surplus or redundant bells. Grants were also secured to fund the new frame and fittings needed to support the expanded ring.

The church’s bells have a long history dating back to 1553, when four bells were recorded in the central tower. They were recast and added to over the centuries, with two more bells installed to mark Queen Victoria’s jubilee in 1896 before the entire ring was recast in 1924.

A ‘dumb bell’ and electronic simulator have also been installed to help train new ringers. Increasing the number of bells will allow learners to progress more easily and provide a wider range of ringing for the tower.

Chris said, “Increasing the number of bells to ten gives us a properly tuned light ring of six on the front bells. The present ring of eight will remain and this will give us a superb sounding light ring of ten, something lacking amongst the rings in the area.”

The team is now inviting anyone interested in bell ringing to attend practice on Fridays at 7.30pm. Members currently range in age from 17 to 87.