East Dean: St Winfrith

This June nearly all of the benefice's bell ringers spent a day touring around the 5 benefice churches that have bells. We started chiming the bells at Wellow, a unique experience where instead of being tucked away in a tower we rang in the nave of the beautiful Grade 1 listed church. Next we rang in Sherfield English, where the church and bells' 120 year celebrations were the inspiration for the tour. After a picnic at one of the ringers' houses we moved to Lockerley, where the ringing chamber could not accommodate all 19 of us at one time, so we took turns to ring and shelter from the rain, nattering in the vestibule. Next was a visit to East Tytherley, its ground floor ringing giving those that don't normally ring there a little concern for the extra challenge of longer ropes, and a stunning countryside setting to enjoy the sun that had come out with a choice of cakes, baked by several of the ringers. Finally West Tytherley beckoned with its 3 bells including one from 1260, which is probably the world's oldest bell hung for full circle ringing. A whistle-wetting at the local pub capped off a perfect day in which we all got to meet each other and enjoy the experience of ringing the bells at each other's towers.

East Dean: St Winfrith

Benefice Bellringing Tour