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The history of bellringers & bellringing - Ringing Societies


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Bath & Wells Diocesan Association and associated societies

Associated societies have a green background.

Society NameDescriptionsFrom (year)To (year)Web site
Bath & Keynsham United Deaneries of Change Ringers

A fore runner of the Bath & Wells Diocesan Association [Research by John Harrison.]

18821889
Bath & Wells Diocesan Association

Was formed on the extension of the former Bath & Keynsham United Deaneries [Research by John Harrison.]

Following a decline of change ringing in the region, a general meeting of the clergy, churchwardens and ringers in the Bath and Keynsham Deaneries was held on 18th July 1882, at which it was agreed to form the Bath and Keynsham United Deaneries Association of Church Bell Ringers. After a short time this led to a further meeting held on 31st May 1890 at which it was agreed to extend the work of the group to form a Diocesan organisation. The opening festival of the new Association took place at Taunton on Saturday 5th July. The Association is nationally the third largest territorial society based on membership. Geographically it stretches from Exmoor in the west, to North Somerset and the outskirts of the City of Bristol, includes the City of Bath and reaches to the edge of Dorset in the South. Further information can be found in the Ringing World (18th May 1990, pages 477 to 478) and in the publication The First Hundred Years by Michael Horseman (1990). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

Founded 1890 [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

1890https://bath-wells.org/

Photo

Books in the Council Library

TitleAuthorDateNotesAcquisition Number
Annual Reports 1890 - 1901, 1904/05, 1907/08, 1908/09, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1914/15, 1915/16, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 1929 - 2013/14, 2014 – 2017/18670
Ringing a BellHenry J Sanger1958 1217
Ringing a BellHenry J Sanger1958Reprint - insert (see 1217 above) included in text 2787
Ringing a BellHenry J Sanger1958Reprint - insert (see 1217 above) included in text 1033
The Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers: The first hundred yearsMichael Horseman1990 1964
Ringing Grandsire DoublesCharles H Shearnn.d.First published in 1903 1091
Ringing Grandsire DoublesCharles H Shearnn.d.First published in 1903 1218
Introducing bells and bellringingn.d.Recruiting leaflets 1245
Bells of Somerset1998Axbridge, Bath Abbey, Wells Cathedral. Bridgwater, Queen Camel, Ditcheat, Chewton Mendip, East Pennard, Ilminster, Compton Martin, South Petherton, Angersleigh, Dunster. 3582
Bath and Wells D A Library contents 1121

Accounts of the lives of members (Navigation at foot of page)

NamePlace(s)Other societiesDate of death
Commander John L Aldridge Place of Birth: Combe St Nicholas
Location mentioned in obituary: Holford
06/01/2011
Christine Andrew Place of Birth: Ashton-under-Lyne
First peal tower: Farnworth with Kearsley
Location mentioned in obituary: Backwell
Ladies' Guild18/02/2018
Ernest John Strickland Andrew Location mentioned in obituary: Bristol (ex)Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association16/02/1909
Raymond Francis Arscott Location mentioned in obituary: Taunton (Wilton)09/10/1997
Mervyn Roy Arscott Began ringing at: Selworthy
Location mentioned in obituary: Taunton (Wilton)
09/07/1990
Leslie Arscott Location mentioned in obituary: Luccombe
Location mentioned in obituary: Selworthy
03/09/1999
Frederick C Arscott Place of Birth: Luccombe
Location mentioned in obituary: Luccombe
Location mentioned in obituary: Selworthy
25/12/1977
Margaret Astridge Place of Birth: Channel Islands
Began ringing at: Ilminster
Location mentioned in obituary: Huish Episcopi
21/12/2012
Jenny M A Astridge Began ringing at: Ashtead
First peal tower: Brentford St Lawrence
Location mentioned in obituary: Chilcompton
15/04/2019
Derek George Astridge Location mentioned in obituary: Huish EpiscopiAncient Society of College Youths
Society of Roving Ringers
University of Wales Society of Change Ringers
16/03/2000
Henry John Atwell Location mentioned in obituary: Boltonsborough 
E J Avery Location mentioned in obituary: Sandford19/09/1952
Christopher E Avery Place of Birth: Churchill
Began ringing at: Churchill
Location mentioned in obituary: Churchill (Som)
15/06/1990
Fred Avery Place of Birth: Devon
Began ringing at: East Stonehouse
Location mentioned in obituary: Taunton (Wilton)
11/11/1989
George August Frederick Baatz Roll of Honour tower: Bath (St Mark)03/01/1944
Herbert Baber Location mentioned in obituary: Chewton Mendip29/06/1980
Roland Charles Backhurst Place of Birth: Hazeltine, Surrey
First peal tower: Ash, Surrey
Guildford Diocesan Guild
University of Surrey Society of Change Ringers
27/07/2020
Raymond E J Baker Place of Birth: Bishop’s Hull
Began ringing at: Bishop’s Hull
Location mentioned in obituary: Weston-super-Mare
Ancient Society of College Youths 
Private Sydney James Ball Place of Birth: Congresbury
Roll of Honour tower: Congresbury
26/06/1917
Robert David Bell Place of Birth: Chesham
Began ringing at: Chesham
First peal tower: Bath, St Michael
Towers: Bath
26/08/2023

Peal Statistics

Statistics sourced from the annual reports of the Council Peal Analysis Committee will be shown here

The tables will need to be digitised first. A job for 2024.

Peal board photos

Total records: 2

Radstock, Somerset 25/09/1973

Details

Ilminster, Somerset 02/06/2012

Details

Peals

For those who have a pealbase login, the society analysis has totals since 1910.

Bath & Wells Diocesan Association and associated societies

Associated societies have a green background.

Society NameDescriptionsFrom (year)To (year)Web site
Bath & Keynsham United Deaneries of Change Ringers

A fore runner of the Bath & Wells Diocesan Association [Research by John Harrison.]

18821889
Bath & Wells Diocesan Association

Was formed on the extension of the former Bath & Keynsham United Deaneries [Research by John Harrison.]

Following a decline of change ringing in the region, a general meeting of the clergy, churchwardens and ringers in the Bath and Keynsham Deaneries was held on 18th July 1882, at which it was agreed to form the Bath and Keynsham United Deaneries Association of Church Bell Ringers. After a short time this led to a further meeting held on 31st May 1890 at which it was agreed to extend the work of the group to form a Diocesan organisation. The opening festival of the new Association took place at Taunton on Saturday 5th July. The Association is nationally the third largest territorial society based on membership. Geographically it stretches from Exmoor in the west, to North Somerset and the outskirts of the City of Bristol, includes the City of Bath and reaches to the edge of Dorset in the South. Further information can be found in the Ringing World (18th May 1990, pages 477 to 478) and in the publication The First Hundred Years by Michael Horseman (1990). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

Founded 1890 [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

1890https://bath-wells.org/

Photo

Books in the Council Library

TitleAuthorDateNotesAcquisition Number
Annual Reports 1890 - 1901, 1904/05, 1907/08, 1908/09, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1914/15, 1915/16, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 1929 - 2013/14, 2014 – 2017/18670
Ringing a BellHenry J Sanger1958 1217
Ringing a BellHenry J Sanger1958Reprint - insert (see 1217 above) included in text 2787
Ringing a BellHenry J Sanger1958Reprint - insert (see 1217 above) included in text 1033
The Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers: The first hundred yearsMichael Horseman1990 1964
Ringing Grandsire DoublesCharles H Shearnn.d.First published in 1903 1091
Ringing Grandsire DoublesCharles H Shearnn.d.First published in 1903 1218
Introducing bells and bellringingn.d.Recruiting leaflets 1245
Bells of Somerset1998Axbridge, Bath Abbey, Wells Cathedral. Bridgwater, Queen Camel, Ditcheat, Chewton Mendip, East Pennard, Ilminster, Compton Martin, South Petherton, Angersleigh, Dunster. 3582
Bath and Wells D A Library contents 1121

Accounts of the lives of members (Navigation at foot of page)

NamePlace(s)Other societiesDate of death
Commander John L Aldridge Place of Birth: Combe St Nicholas
Location mentioned in obituary: Holford
06/01/2011
Christine Andrew Place of Birth: Ashton-under-Lyne
First peal tower: Farnworth with Kearsley
Location mentioned in obituary: Backwell
Ladies' Guild18/02/2018
Ernest John Strickland Andrew Location mentioned in obituary: Bristol (ex)Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association16/02/1909
Raymond Francis Arscott Location mentioned in obituary: Taunton (Wilton)09/10/1997
Mervyn Roy Arscott Began ringing at: Selworthy
Location mentioned in obituary: Taunton (Wilton)
09/07/1990
Leslie Arscott Location mentioned in obituary: Luccombe
Location mentioned in obituary: Selworthy
03/09/1999
Frederick C Arscott Place of Birth: Luccombe
Location mentioned in obituary: Luccombe
Location mentioned in obituary: Selworthy
25/12/1977
Margaret Astridge Place of Birth: Channel Islands
Began ringing at: Ilminster
Location mentioned in obituary: Huish Episcopi
21/12/2012
Jenny M A Astridge Began ringing at: Ashtead
First peal tower: Brentford St Lawrence
Location mentioned in obituary: Chilcompton
15/04/2019
Derek George Astridge Location mentioned in obituary: Huish EpiscopiAncient Society of College Youths
Society of Roving Ringers
University of Wales Society of Change Ringers
16/03/2000
Henry John Atwell Location mentioned in obituary: Boltonsborough 
E J Avery Location mentioned in obituary: Sandford19/09/1952
Christopher E Avery Place of Birth: Churchill
Began ringing at: Churchill
Location mentioned in obituary: Churchill (Som)
15/06/1990
Fred Avery Place of Birth: Devon
Began ringing at: East Stonehouse
Location mentioned in obituary: Taunton (Wilton)
11/11/1989
George August Frederick Baatz Roll of Honour tower: Bath (St Mark)03/01/1944
Herbert Baber Location mentioned in obituary: Chewton Mendip29/06/1980
Roland Charles Backhurst Place of Birth: Hazeltine, Surrey
First peal tower: Ash, Surrey
Guildford Diocesan Guild
University of Surrey Society of Change Ringers
27/07/2020
Raymond E J Baker Place of Birth: Bishop’s Hull
Began ringing at: Bishop’s Hull
Location mentioned in obituary: Weston-super-Mare
Ancient Society of College Youths 
Private Sydney James Ball Place of Birth: Congresbury
Roll of Honour tower: Congresbury
26/06/1917
Robert David Bell Place of Birth: Chesham
Began ringing at: Chesham
First peal tower: Bath, St Michael
Towers: Bath
26/08/2023

Peal Statistics

Statistics sourced from the annual reports of the Council Peal Analysis Committee will be shown here

The tables will need to be digitised first. A job for 2024.

Peal board photos

Total records: 2

Radstock, Somerset 25/09/1973

Details

Ilminster, Somerset 02/06/2012

Details

Peals

For those who have a pealbase login, the society analysis has totals since 1910.

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