Fathers Day 18th June 2023
Two families of ringers joined to ring our bells on Sunday 18th June: Chris with two of his children and one of his grandchildren joined Pete with two of his daughters to celebrate Fathers' Day
Up the Tower September 2022
The last weeks have been rather hectic for the Darfield bell ringers. It all started with urgent messages received on Thursday afternoon, 8th September, to be prepared to put ‘Operation London Bridge’ into action. As most of us had never even heard of it at that stage, this required some busy checking on the internet and consultation with other ringers. Then, just before our weekly practice, came the sad news that Queen Elizabeth II had died. It was decided to go ahead with the ringing with the bells half-muffled, as advised in Operation London Bridge. Muffles (leather pads) were hastily attached to the clappers of all our bells and ringing commenced with 6 tailors and 96 tolls of the tenor bell. This is an age-old practice whereby villagers could discover that someone had died – three strokes on the bell for a child, six for a woman and nine for a man, in each case followed by the age of the person who had died. The muffle on the bell quietens every other blow of the clapper and produces a lovely and yet mournful sound. We went on to ring some call changes (changing the order in which the bells sound) called ‘Kings’ and ‘Queens’. And, of course, Chris had to climb to the top of the tower to lower the flag to half mast
We then rang again at 12 midday on the Friday, when as many bells as possible throughout the country were also ringing – all half or fully muffled. Our bells then continued to be rung muffled for any services or events until after the funeral on Monday, 19th. However, the flag briefly went back to full mast from 11am Saturday 10th in honour of the ‘Proclamation of the King – Charles III – in accordance with instruction. Then back to half mast from Sunday 11th at 1pm (again all thanks to Chris).
We rang for almost an hour before the funeral on Monday 19th, ringing our ‘Kings’ and ‘Queens’, with all our latest learners taking part. We then rang a special ‘quarter peal’ (about 48 minutes) of Plain Bob Doubles in the afternoon as the hearse carried the Queen’s coffin to Windsor.
And finally, of course, Chris had to climb those steps to the top one last time to raise the flag back to full mast!
It was an honour and a privilege to be amongst the ringers who rang throughout the country for our dear, departed Queen Elizabeth.
July 2021
Thursday evenings will once again resound to our Bellringers catching up on their practice as they prepare to ring for services and forthcoming weddings. They are still restricted in time and numbers at each practice and hope that the people of Darfield will will bear with them as the re-adjust to more normal ringing and promise that they will not drop too many clangers in the process.
June 2021
Our ringers are now ringing on Thurdays and Sundays when our church is open
May 2021
As Lockdown eases, our ringers were able to resume their activities subject to the advice received from their National Federation.
They rang on Sunday before our service and on Thursday before our church was open for prayer
April 2021
The Tenor Bell as tolled for five minutes leading up to noon on Saturday 17th April to mark the start of the Funeral Service.
From noon on Saturday 10th April, our Tenor Bell was tolled 99 times to mark the life and death of H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Our Union Flag was lowered to half mast and will remain so until after his funeral.
Thanks to Chris, Joe and Kay
March 2021
The Tenor Bell was tolled for five minutes from 12:01 p.m. following the one minute's silence to mark the Day of Reflection in memory of all those who have died during the Pandemic
Thank you Joe
February 2021
One of our bells was tolled on Friday 12th February to greet the relatives and friends of Granville Bentley as they met to mark his burial and the Thanksgiving for his life spent in His Lord's Service
Thanks to Chris and Kay for making the arrangements
December 2020
Our socially distanced Ringers were able to exercise our bells briefly before our Communion Service on Christmas Eve and before our online Service on Christmas Day.
Otherwise our bells remain silent
November 2020
A half-muffled bell marked the two minutes silence on Sunday 8th November.
October 2020
Since South Yorkshire moved into Tier 3 restrictions and the country into Lockdown, our bellringers are no longer able to gather in the Ringing Chamber and our bells have been silenced once more. You may hear one solitary bell marking the times our church remains open for private prayer.
Back in Action: August 2020
After nearly five months of inaction, our bellringers are back to their ropes. Closure of the Church for Public Worship and restricted access to the building meant they were unable to ring.
On 2nd August, the church was opened for private prayer. The ringers made their contribution by ringing four of our eight bells whilst following social distancing requirements.
Follow the link to our website to hear them in action
Read their account on our newsheet for 16th August