Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association

Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association

The Association was founded on 8th January 1878 as the sixth of the modern ringing societies known today. Although it was the founding of both the Durham and Norwich Diocesan societies that undoubtedly gave its two founders, George Phillott and Charles Davies, the impetus to establish the Association they may already have been influenced from their time ringing in Oxford. Here they rang with notables such as Charles W A Troyte and Jasper W Snowdon founding presidents of the Devon (1874) and Yorkshire (1875) Associations respectively.
In the autumn of 1877, they arranged two initial meetings at the vicarage in Bisley, near Stroud, to discuss the idea with other interested parties. As a result, in November the two of them sent an invited to the clergy of the Diocese inviting them to a meeting in the Chapter Room at Gloucester Cathedral at noon on 8th January to 'form, in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, an Association of Church Change Ringers similar to those already established in Devonshire, Durham and Norfolk'.
The first AGM was held on 1st July 1878 at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. Around 100 people attended and by the end of the year the new Association had 96 ringing and 57 honorary members. A fuller history can be found in Ringing World (6th January 1978, pages 2 to 4). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

founded 1878 [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

1878