Suffolk Guild of Ringers

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Suffolk Guild of Ringers for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
AbbreviationSGR
Formation2 April 1923
Founded atSt Mary-le-Tower church house, Ipswich
Legal statusCharity
PurposePromotion of Full circle ringing in Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Region
Suffolk
Membership (2019)
776
Chairman
Mark Ogden (2023–)
Ringing Master
Katharine Salter (2021- )
AffiliationsCentral Council of Church Bell Ringers
Websitewww.suffolkbells.org.uk

The Suffolk Guild of Ringers for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is a society and charity supporting the bell ringers and rings of bells in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich who practice the art of change ringing. The Guild was established on 2 April 1923 at Ipswich and covers over 200 rings of bells in the county of Suffolk in the area that falls within the diocese boundary.

Origins[edit]

Prior to the creation of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich the western half of the county was part of the Diocese of Ely and the eastern half was part of the Diocese of Norwich and therefore ringers were members of the respective associations being the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers (EDACR) and the Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers (NDAR). After the diocese was created in 1914 Ely Diocesan Association adopted the name 'The Ely and St. Edmundsbury Diocesan Association' whilst the Norwich Diocesan Association was known as 'The Norwich and Ipswich Association.' The impetus for the formation of an Suffolk association came mainly from the west of the county but this met with much opposition particularly from (NDAR).[1] The Suffolk County Association, the first solely Suffolk based ringing organisation, was formed on 5 February 1921, at Lavenham, under the mastership of Stedman Symonds, but soon changed its name to the Suffolk Diocesan Association at Easter. On 29 April 1922, there was another change of name to the St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Association. Finally on 2 April 1923 the Suffolk Guild of Ringers was formed after a meeting at St. Mary le Tower Church House, Ipswich with Charles Sedgley being elected master and Rev. Herbert Drake as secretary.[2]

Operations[edit]

As of the end of 2019 the Guild has 776 members[3] from 198 towers with ringable bells.[4] Its listed objects are to supporting the recruitment and training of bellringers and cultivating the art of scientific ringing alongside promoting and supporting the restoration and augmentation of rings of bells.[5] The Guild is affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR), a global organisation representing all those who practice Change ringing, and currently sends four representatives to be part of the Council.[6]

Governance[edit]

A mixture of elected and appointed officers run the Guild with Guild Management Committee being the main decision making body. The chairman, secretary, treasurer, and ringing master make up the executive and are trustees of Guild which is registered as a charity.[7] The Guild is split into four districts to encourage ringing at a local level through education and training. Each district covers a geographical quarter of the diocese, North East, South East, North West, and South West electing their own ringing master, secretary, treasurer along with representatives to the Guild's committees.[5]

Ringing[edit]

Aside from regular religious services, ringing is often conducted for special occasions such as anniversaries, memorials and other locally or nationally significant events. There are weekly evening practices held at around 80 towers across the Guild[8] where all skills of change ringing are taught and practiced including method ringing. Each district in Guild has a rolling programme of monthly events at a different towers allowing ringers to socialise and practice more advance ringing, events will include outings outside of the Guild, striking contests, and socials.[9] The members of the Guild regularly ring peals, as defined by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. Between its formation and the end of 2019 there has been 9812 peals rung for the Guild.[10] Quarter peals, which are performances of continuous method ringing last approximately 45 mins, are also regularly rung by members with around 530 being recorded in 2019.[11]

The Bell Tower at Beccles which is operated by the Guild on behalf of the Town Council
Guild members ringing at Holy Innocents, Great Barton


Striking contests[edit]

There are three annual striking competitions held by the Guild as well as a number held at district level. The three Guild contests are:

  • Rose trophy for eight bell method ringing[12]
  • Mitson shield for six bell method ringing[13][14]
  • Lester Brett trophy for six bell call change ringing

A combined band is sent represent the Guild as a whole at the East Anglian Ridgman trophy for ten bell method ringing.[15]

Rose Trophy[edit]

Rose Trophy Results[16]
Year Venue Winner
1984 Halesworth SE District
1985 Elveden St Mary‑le‑Tower
1986 Offton SE District
1987 Kersey St Mary-le-Tower
1988 Eye St Mary-le-Tower
1989 Stowmarket St Mary-le-Tower
1990 Ipswich, St Margaret SE District
1991 Stoke by Nayland St Mary-le-Tower
1992 Worlingworth St Mary-le-Tower
1993 Horringer St Mary-le-Tower
1994 Debenham Grundisburgh
1995 Kersey St Mary-le-Tower
1996 Aldeburgh St Mary-le-Tower
1997 Stowmarket St Mary-le-Tower
1998 Hollesley St Mary-le-Tower
1999 Boxford St Mary-le-Tower
2000 Horham St Mary-le-Tower
2001 Cotton St Mary-le-Tower
2002 Ufford St Mary‑le‑Tower
2003 Stoke by Nayland St Mary‑le‑Tower
2004 Southwold St Mary‑le‑Tower
2005 Stowmarket NW District
2006 Orford NE District
2007 Hadleigh SE District
2008 Rendham St Mary-le-Tower
2009 Dalham St Mary-le-Tower
2010 Woodbridge NE District
2011 Stoke by Nayland SE District
2012 Leiston NE District
2013 Gislingham NE District
2014 Helmingham NW District
2015 Lavenham St Mary-le-Tower
2016 Southwold St Mary-le-Tower
2017 Horringer NE District
2018 Debenham SE District
2019 Lavenham NW District
2020 Not contested N/A
2021 Horringer The Norman Tower
2022 Offton St Mary-le-Tower
2023 Hitcham SE District

Mitson Shield[edit]

Mitson Shield results[17]
Year Venue Winner
1963 Bredfield SE District
1964 Buxhall SE District
1965 Cavendish Henley
1966 Theberton Beccles
1967 Horringer Framsden
1968 Ashbocking Bramford
1969 Woolpit Bramford
1970 Higham Lavenham
1971 Benhall Lavenham
1972 Walsham Clare
1973 Offton Horringer
1974 Bacton Horringer
1975 Nayland Grundisburgh
1976 Saxmundham Lavenham
1977 Great Barton Grundisburgh
1978 Bredfield Beccles
1979 Kersey Lavenham
1980 Wingfield St Mary‑le‑Tower
1981 Buxhall St Mary‑le‑Tower
1982 Henley St Mary‑le‑Tower
1983 Cavendish St Mary‑le‑Tower
1984 Blythburgh St Mary‑le‑Tower
1985 Fornham St Martin St Mary‑le‑Tower
1986 Bramford St Mary‑le‑Tower
1987 Hintlesham St Mary‑le‑Tower
1988 Yaxley St Mary‑le‑Tower
1989 Buxhall St Mary‑le‑Tower
1990 Sproughton St Mary‑le‑Tower
1991 Nayland St Mary‑le‑Tower
1992 Tannington Stowmarket
1993 Rougham Stowmarket
1994 Otley Grundisburgh
1995 Polstead Grundisburgh
1996 Saxmundham Grundisburgh
1997 Buxhall Stowmarket
1998 Tunstall St Mary‑le‑Tower
1999 Bildeston St Mary‑le‑Tower
2000 Oakley St Mary‑le‑Tower
2001 Bacton St Mary‑le‑Tower
2002 Pettistree St Mary‑le‑Tower
2003 Polstead St Mary‑le‑Tower
2004 Reydon St Mary‑le‑Tower
2005 Gt Finborough Grundisburgh
2006 Tunstall Rendham
2007 Monks Eleigh Grundisburgh
2008 Sweffling Pettistree
2009 Exning St Mary‑le‑Tower
2010 Hasketon St Mary‑le‑Tower
2011 Nayland St Mary-le-Tower
2012 Blythburgh Pettistree
2013 Thornham Magna The Wolery
2014 Ashbocking St Mary‑le‑Tower
2015 Rattlesden St Mary‑le‑Tower
2016 Reydon St Mary‑le‑Tower
2017 Walsham‑le‑Willows Pakenham
2018 Earl Stonham St Mary‑le‑Tower
2019 Polstead Pettistree
2020 Not contested
2021 Not contested
2022 Blythburgh St Mary‑le‑Tower
2023 Troston St Mary-le-Tower A

Events[edit]

Ipswich Christmas Ringing[edit]

Since 1993 Guild members have rung all the bells at the churches in Ipswich town centre on the Saturday before Christmas.[18]

St Edmund's day[edit]

The Guild supported the campaign to restore Edmund the Martyr as patron saint of England by coordinating annual ringing of bells across Suffolk on his feast day of the 20 November due to his connection with Suffolk.[19]

Ringing for Peace Armistice 100[edit]

On the 100th anniversary of the armistice November 2018 members of the Guild rang the bells at all the ringable towers in the diocese in a single day to mark the commemorations, a feat which had never been attempted before.[20]

Affiliated towers[edit]

The towers covered by the Guild which contain four or more bells hung for change ringing.[21]

North East District[edit]

  1. Aldeburgh, St Peter and St Paul
  2. Badingham
  3. Barsham
  4. Beccles
  5. Bedfield
  6. Benhall
  7. Blaxhall
  8. Blythburgh, Holy Trinity
  9. Bramfield, St Andrew
  10. Brampton
  11. Bungay, St Mary
  12. Chediston
  13. Covehithe
  14. Dennington
  15. Fressingfield
  16. Great Glemham
  17. Halesworth
  18. Heveningham, St Margaret
  19. Huntingfield, St Mary
  20. Kelsale
  21. Leiston
  22. Mendham
  23. Metfield
  24. Monk Soham
  25. Parham
  26. Peasenhall
  27. Rendham
  28. Reydon
  29. Ringsfield
  30. Rumburgh
  31. Saxmundham
  32. Southwold
  33. St Cross South Elmham
  34. St Margaret South Elmham
  35. Stradbroke
  36. Sweffling
  37. Tannington
  38. Theberton
  39. Wenhaston
  40. Westhall, St Andrew
  41. Weybread
  42. Wingfield
  43. Wissett
  44. Woodbridge
  45. Worlingham
  46. Worlingworth
  47. Wrentham
  48. Yoxford

North West District[edit]

  1. Ampton
  2. Bacton
  3. Badwell Ash
  4. Bardwell
  5. Barrow
  6. Brandon
  7. Brome
  8. Burgate
  9. Bury St Edmunds, The Norman Tower
  10. Buxhall
  11. Chevington
  12. Cotton
  13. Dalham
  14. Elveden
  15. Eriswell
  16. Euston
  17. Exning
  18. Eye
  19. Fornham All Saints
  20. Fornham St Martin
  21. Freckenham
  22. Gislingham
  23. Great Ashfield
  24. Great Barton
  25. Great Finborough, St Andrew
  26. Great Livermere
  27. Haughley
  28. Hepworth
  29. Hinderclay
  30. Hopton
  31. Horringer
  32. Hunston
  33. Ingham
  34. Ixworth
  35. Lakenheath
  36. Mildenhall
  37. Newmarket, Mindinho-le-Tower
  38. Newmarket, St Mary
  39. Norton, The Owl Ring
  40. Oakley
  41. Old Newton
  42. Pakenham
  43. Palgrave
  44. Redgrave
  45. Rickinghall Superior
  46. Rougham
  47. Stoke Ash
  48. Stowlangtoft
  49. Stowmarket, St Peter & St Mary
  50. Thelnetham
  51. Thorndon
  52. Thornham Magna
  53. Thrandeston
  54. Thurston
  55. Tostock
  56. Troston
  57. Walsham le Willows
  58. Wattisfield
  59. West Stow
  60. Wetherden
  61. Wetheringsett
  62. Whepstead
  63. Wickham Skeith
  64. Yaxley

South East District[edit]

  1. Ashbocking, All Saints
  2. Barham, St Mary & St Peter
  3. Barking
  4. Baylham
  5. Bramford
  6. Brandeston
  7. Bredfield
  8. Burgh
  9. Campsea Ashe
  10. Clopton
  11. Coddenham
  12. Copdock
  13. Cretingham
  14. Debenham
  15. Earl Soham
  16. Earl Stonham
  17. Easton
  18. Falkenham
  19. Felixstowe
  20. Framlingham
  21. Framsden
  22. Grundisburgh
  23. Hacheston
  24. Harkstead
  25. Hasketon
  26. Helmingham
  27. Henley, St Peter
  28. Hintlesham
  29. Holbrook
  30. Hollesley
  31. Horham
  32. Iken
  33. Ipswich, Old Stoke, The Wolery
  34. Ipswich, St Clement
  35. Ipswich, St Lawrence
  36. Ipswich, St Margaret
  37. Ipswich, St Mary at Quay
  38. Ipswich, St Mary le Tower
  39. Ipswich, St Matthew
  40. Ipswich, St Nicholas
  41. Kettleburgh
  42. Marlesford
  43. Monewden
  44. Offton
  45. Orford
  46. Otley
  47. Pettistree
  48. Rushmere St Andrew
  49. Sproughton
  50. Stonham Aspal
  51. Stutton
  52. Tattingstone
  53. Tuddenham St Martin
  54. Tunstall
  55. Ufford
  56. Wickham Market
  57. Wilby
  58. Winston

South West District[edit]

  1. Acton, All Saints
  2. Assington
  3. Bildeston
  4. Boxford
  5. Bures
  6. Cavendish, St Mary
  7. Clare
  8. Cowlinge
  9. Drinkstone
  10. Edwardstone
  11. Elmsett
  12. Felsham
  13. Glemsford
  14. Great Thurlow
  15. Hadleigh
  16. Hartest
  17. Haverhill
  18. Hawkedon
  19. Higham
  20. Hitcham
  21. Kedington
  22. Kersey, St Mary
  23. Lavenham
  24. Little Glemham
  25. Little Thurlow
  26. Long Melford
  27. Monks Eleigh
  28. Nayland
  29. Polstead
  30. Poslingford
  31. Preston St Mary
  32. Rattlesden
  33. Stansfield
  34. Stoke by Clare
  35. Stoke by Nayland, St Mary
  36. Stradishall
  37. Stratford St Mary
  38. Sudbury All Saints
  39. Sudbury St Gregory
  40. Sudbury, St Peter
  41. Woolpit

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Clouston, R. W. M; Pipe, G. J. W; Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (1980). Bells and bellringing in Suffolk. Ipswich, England: Suffolk Historic Churches Trust. OCLC 15371753.
  2. ^ "A NEW SOCIETY FOR SUFFOLK" (PDF). The Ringing World. 1923: 214.
  3. ^ "CCCBR Society Membership Numbers 2020" (PDF). Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Dove's Guide Search Suffolk". dove.cccbr.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Suffolk Guild of Ringers Constitution". www.suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Members and Affiliated Societies". CCCBR. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Suffolk Guild Charity Details". beta.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Dove's Guide Search Practices". dove.cccbr.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Suffolk Guild of Ringers: What's On". www.suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. ^ "SGR Peals". www.pealbase.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Ringing World BellBoard". bb.ringingworld.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Suffolk Guild of Ringers". suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Mitson Shield". suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Pettistree People" (PDF). June 2019.
  15. ^ "ridgmantrophy". ridgmantrophy.elyda.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Suffolk Guild of Ringers Rose Trophy Results". www.suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Suffolk Guild of Ringers Mitson Shield Results". www.suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  18. ^ Hume, Holly. "Explained - the unusual noise shoppers in Ipswich will hear over Christmas weekend". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Bells chime for St Edmund's Day". 17 November 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Ringing for Peace at Bramfield". Armistice 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Affiliated towers". www.suffolkbells.org.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2022.


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