The history of bellringers & bellringing - Ringing Societies

Ringing in northern Shropshire was originally organised within the Salop Archdeaconry and this led to the establishment of the Salop Archidiaconal Association who held their first annual meeting at St Mary, Shrewsbury on 26 June 1886 (see Bell News 3rd July 1886, page 106). The Association appears to have initially been active but little is known of its activities a few years later. An initial meeting of a new society, the Salop Archidiaconal Guild, was held on 8th December 1895. A report at the time suggests this was 'for the resuscitation of the Guild' which implies a reconstitution of the former Association but under a new title. This initial meeting was followed by the first annual meeting of the new Guild held at St Alkmund, Shrewsbury on 5th August 1895 (Bell News 24th August 1895, page 145).
There appears to have been a longstanding dispute between the St Chad, Shrewsbury and Coalbrookdale ringers which had resulted in the Guild becoming inactive. On the 24th June 1926 a small meeting was convened by a handful of senior ringers and clergy 'to consider the reconstruction of the Salop Guild'. The outcome was a further meeting involving all those interested in church bell ringing in the County of Salop held on 24th July 1926.At this meeting it was agreed to create the new Shropshire Association. For further background see the Ringing World (26th November 1976, page 981). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

founded 1926)
Formerly: Salop Archidiaconal Guild (1895-1926) [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

[Minutes have reps from 1921-present. Biogs have 1924-2008] [Observations made during the compilation of this combined dataset - by Doug Hird]