South West bells rung to mark centenary of ringing

People are being invited to ring the bells to mark the anniversary

A "ringing and singing" event is set to take place in five bell towers across Devon and Cornwall to mark a centenary of ringing.

The Devon Association of Ringers, alongside music charity Wren Music, said locals were invited to join the activities. In May, more than 100 bell towers were rung for the 100th anniversary.

People visiting St Swithun's Church in Pyworthy, St. Paternus Church in North Petherwin and St Nicholas Church in Broadwoodwidger will be shown "the ropes" on how to ring the bells.

A bellringing competition will be held at St Mary's Church in Bratton Clovelly and St Peter Ad Vincula in Ashwater with about 45 ringers expected to take part on Saturday.

Vice-chair Jon Bint said during the competition the bells would be rung in the call change style of ringing, which was "unique" to Devon and the east of Cornwall.

He said: "It's more rhythmic than method ringing, which is what you'll find elsewhere - you could say that method ringing is more at the classical end and ours is very much at the folk end.

"Another difference is that call change ringing has always been based around competitions, and one of the things that sets it apart is that it has thrown up this body of folk songs."

A bellringing competition will also be held as part of the centenary

There are 400 bell towers in Devon, with 150 to 160 of them being a part of the association, it said.

It added that over the centenary there had been "a lot of changes" including the amount of women involved in bell ringing, however it said the loss of rural churches was having an impact.

South Brent bell ringer Victoria Tucker said: "The closure of churches is the biggest threat to bellringing.

"We've got a huge number of churches that are sharing congregations and those not being used are falling into disrepair or being sold."