Category: Hereford

Mordiford Bell Restoration

The rare set of bells at Mordiford Holy Rood church were carefully taken down  on 4th January 2025 and sent off to Taylors in Loughborough for the next part of their conservation and cleaning. All new ringing fittings will be manufactured, together with a new rope guide.

The bells are a complete ring of five by William Huntbatch of Worcester dating from 1687. They will not be retuned nor augmented and so when the work is complete, they will sound as near as possible to how they did nearly 340 years ago!

More information on the Taylors website here and a Hereford Times Report is here.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Mordiford Bell project, should do so through Mordiford Parish Giving or cash or cheque to PCC of Mordiford c/o Mr R G Moss, Little Hope, Mordiford, Hereford HR1 3LT.

Mordiford

November practices at St Nicholas, Hereford

There are just two practices left at St Nicholas church, before the final services on Sunday 1 December 2024:

      • Wednesday 13th November 6:30 – 8:00
      • Wednesday 27th November 6:30 – 8:00

Parking is available on the Military Club car park on Friar Street.

Please message Ann on 07988 750673 if you would like to join us, as if numbers are low we will have to cancel.

 

 

Hereford District Outing 2024 Saturday 8th June

Join us on an outing on Saturday 8th June to ring some fabulous bells in South Wales. Everyone is welcome whether you’re brand new to ringing or have been doing it for a while.

Lunch – There are several places to eat and drink in and around Merthyr Tydfil.

Tower donations – we ask that everyone joining us contribute £5 for the day.

If you would like any more information or to let us know you are planning to join us, please contact Nicky njaubrey@hotmail.com or 07806621514

9:00 – 9:45 Mynyddislwyn
St Tudor NP12 2BG		 8 bells, 12-1-14
10:15 – 11:00 Pontypridd
St Catherine CF37 2UF		 8 bells, 12-2-21
11:30 – 12:15 Merthyr Tydfil
St Tydfil CF47 8DP		 8 bells, 20-0-15
14:15 – 15:00 Ebbw Vale
Christ Church NP23 6UJ		 8 bells, 24-3-25
15:20 – 16:05 Blaenavon
St Peter NP4 9AS		 8 bells, 9-1-0
16:30 – 17:30 Abergavenny
St Mary NP7 5NE		 10 bells, 25-0-18

St Andrews Place Doubles on St Andrews Day at St Andrews church, Allensmore

It was only a whim, a silly idea
St Andrews Day, end of November
Last year was a peal, not done before
300 years to remember.

Les said, “a method, one we don’t know
Is there something relates to Saint Andy?”
Google came up with St Andrews Place Doubles
Well, that looks just fine and dandy

How hard can it be not even a dodge
But what’s this, 3 places in lead?
And look at the back, all those places to make
Success is not guaranteed

Saturday practice is called for, with coffee and cake
Including the odd sausage roll
Bells clashed straight away, “you’re all wrong” was the call
No, this won’t be a stroll

But gradually it came, the start was well practiced!
Then Nick said let’s call a touch
Back to square one, all over the place
Not sure I like this too much

But with thanks to the band, it all came together
Nick, Nick, Lesley and Vicky
Carol and Steve joined in with it too
… and our support team, Paul, Alan and Libby

St Andrews Place mugAt the end of it all, enormous relief!
We all need a great big team hug
And to remember the day, just one thing to say:
“Well and truly a St Andrews Place MUG!”

Nick Chapman, Nov 2023

The band: 1. Carol Williams, 2. Vicky Rees (c), 3. Lesley Meredith, 4.Nick Cooper-Tomkins, 5. Nick Chapman, 6. Steve Williams

Link to Bellboard is here

You can download the blue line and ringing notes for St Andrews Place doubles here

Hereford District “Bring & Share” party

To all Hereford District Members

To celebrate Christmas this year we are having a “Bring & Share” party at St Nicholas’ Church, Hereford (HR4 0BH) on Wednesday 6th December. Ringing from 6:00pm and afterwards we’ll eat, chat and drink in the church. All levels of ringers welcome – bring your partners too if they want to join the celebrations. Please bring some food to share and also your own preferred drink.

As it’s a Wednesday, there’s FREE PARKING in Hereford and also LATE NIGHT SHOPPING!

Please let me know if you are coming and what food you will be bringing.

Hope you can all come

Kind regards

Barbara

Hereford District Practice

The next District Practice will be on Saturday 18th November at Much Dewchurch (HR2 8DL) from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

6 bells – 8cwt tenor ground floor ring – so no excuses! Everyone will be given a chance to ring so please come along whatever level of ringing or learning you are at.

Afterwards we’ll recover at the local pub

Hope to see you there

Barbara

St Nicholas, Hereford

There is an evening practice at St Nicholas, Hereford on the 3rd Wednesday in the month; from 1830-2000, the next of which will be Wednesday next week, 20th September.

All methods and abilities will be catered for, but I would like us to concentrate specifically on Double Oxford Minor, (plain hunting treble), and Stedman Triples. Any ringers who might be interested to look these methods up; learn them, and we will have a go at ringing them.

Please come along and support this practice to help us out.

Yours sincerely,
Stu Swift (new Tower Captain and Steeple Keeper at St Nicholas, Hereford – initially for a trial period.)

Hereford District Outing 2023

The Hereford District Outing this year will be on Saturday 16th September, exploring towers in the north west of our area and over the border into Wales. The itinery is …

9:30 – 10:15 Chirbury, St Michael (SY15 6BG) – a very good ‘new’ Whitechapel six cast in the 1990s

10:30 – 11:15 Montgomery, St Nicholas (SY15 6PX) – an almost-complete Rudhall six

11:30 – 12:15 Berriew, St Bueno (SY21 8PQ) – a light eight, modern hanging – mainly Taylor bells

Lunch

14:15 – 15:00 Welshpool, St Mary (SY21 7DS) – a very easy-going eight

15:15 – 16:00 Leighton, Holy Trinity (SY21 9JH) – an early Taylor six – rehung by Eayre & Smith about 20 years ago and go well

16:15 – 17:00 Forden, St Michael & All Angels (SY21 8NE)- a Taylor six – one of the best sixes in Wales

Mordiford Bell restoration

Moves are in progress to restore the 5 bells at Mordiford and make them ringable again.

The bells were cast in 1687 and are unique in that they are the only complete peal of bells in existence made by William Huntbach of Worcester. They have not been rung for at least 50 years.

Fund raising is in progress and has raised £12,500 to date towards a target figure of £55,000 for the restoration project. If you would like to make a donation to get these bells ringing again, please contact Barbara.fox54@btinternet.com for further details.