Shropshire bellringers pull off marathon peal
Bellringers have completed a marathon three-hour session to mark the 300th anniversary of a Shropshire church.
Eight members of the Shropshire Association of Church Bellringers rang a full peal on the eight bells of St Alkmund's Church in Whitchurch yesterday.
The challenge took three hours and 14 minutes, and involved ringing 5,040 changes in the order of the bells.
Peter Woollam, from the Shropshire Association of Church Bellringers, took part in the challenge. He said: "There were one or two minor mistakes but these were quickly and easily corrected and we got through without incident.
"They are not the easiest bells to ring and not the lightest of bells. There is also a tall, slender tower at Whit-church so there tends to be a little bit of movement in the tower. There are strict rules about this kind of thing – no repetitions or interruptions."
It was the first peal rung at St Alkmund's since March 6, 1976. The very first of the 991 peals rung by the association was completed in Whitchurch on August 7, 1926.
A host of events has been taking place to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the church, which needs to raise more than £300,000 for repairs.
Celebrations began in May and included an event to launch the Friends of St Alkmund's. The friends aim to build a permanent stone ramp to the porch, carry out stonework repairs and renovate Bargates Hall.
