St Peter’s Tankersley to Bring Back the Pancake Bell
Historically we know many churches rang the pancake bell on Shrove Tuesday, many still do. St Peter’s Tankersley is reviving the tradition at 11am on Tuesday 13th February. Ringing the pancake bell survives in many churches and this year the bell ringers decided it was time to reintroduce this ancient tradition at Tankersley.
Hundreds of years ago Christians used to be called to church by the 11am bell for confession or to be Shriven of their sins. The bell became known as the Pancake Bell because after the service was the time to use up any perishable food such as eggs and butter ready for the start of Lent. One good way to do that was by making pancakes.
Tankersley ringers will be at St Peter’s on Tuesday 13th February from 10.30 to 12 noon and members of the public are very welcome to come along. It’s an opportunity to have a go at ringing the pancake bell, have a look around this historic church and to chat to the Tankersley ringers about bell ringing.
The bell can be rung from the ground floor of the tower inside the church. However, if anyone would like to see what is up the tower there is an opportunity to have a look accompanied by experienced bell ringers. St Peter’s church has three bells cast in 1560, 1628 and 1729.