THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 100 YEARS OF BELL RINGING AT HOLY TRINITY

100 Years of Bell Ringing at Holy Trinity, Idle    By Nick Thomas

The TV and printed media are full of documentaries and articles   recounting the dreadful business of the Great War. The anniversary of the official declaration of war on August 4th will be marked in a measured way in villages, towns, cities, and various institutions at home and abroad.The war memorial at Holy Trinity Church lists the names of 149 local people who would never to see their homes and families again. At the same time that Idle was swept up by the oncoming rush to war, the local church was in the process of ordering, commissioning and installing the casting of a ring of 8 new bells to be housed in the church tower. To be “... cast  of the purest metal and to be of the best tone and in perfect tune, with true harmonies. In entirely new fittings, consisting of new oak wheels, tough iron headstocks bored and fitted with steel gudgeons, hard gunmetal bearings fitted in iron pedestals, wrought iron clappers with improved crownstaple joints. Ropes of Italian hemp with worsted salleys, rollers, stays, sliders, and the requisite smithwork – all of our best make throughout, fitted to the bells. Strong and massive iron framework for the bells, of improved construction, well braced and firmly bolted together, with stout steel supporting girders and all requisite stays, plates, bolts, nuts,  washers, and rivets.”
The hard language itself seems consistent with a country readying for war. By August 1914 the preparations for the installation of the bells was well under way. During this early period of the war people were saying “It will all be over by Christmas.”, alas it was only the installation of the bells that was over by Christmas. The war had only just begun. Perhaps the requirement of “strong and massive iron” and “improved construction” is a human desire to build something which will endure long after the war is over. The bells were officially dedicated and first rung on December 31st 1914. But new bells require new bell ringers – and with most young men occupied elsewhere it’s no surprise that Harry Foster is listed as the only bell ringer in 1914. It’s not until 1918 that William Feather joins to double the numbers. By 1921 the outstanding quality of the new ring of bells is attracting quality ringers, and a dedicated team of 9 ringers is in residence.The 2nd World War sees an interruption in ringing. All ringing of church bells is banned by the government, and the ringers disappear. But, in 1945, the ringing of church bells signals the end of the war, and ringing at Idle resumes. New ringers are recruited and Emma Briggs, the first female ringer, joins the team. The 50’s and swinging 60’s are arguably the best period for Idle bells. With good numbers of ringers, and good quality of striking. But the 80’s saw another period of decline. In 1998 Carole Shaw became Idle’s first female Tower Captain, and proceeded to rejuvenate the bells and ringers, and taught a completely new band of ringers in time to ring in the new millennium at midnight on December 31st 1999. And so it is that 100 years later, with a popular Church, the bells are still ringing out to the glory of God for Sunday Services, Christmas, and Easter. Not forgetting the traditional weddings and funerals. Idle will host two events organised by the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers this year. The Annual General Meeting is on Saturday 10th May and ringing will take place from 3:30 until 4:30. Also, the annual 6 bell striking contest will take place on June 14th starting at 2PM, and finishing at approximately 6PM. Idle has been selected to host these events primarily to help us celebrate the centenary of ringing at Idle. Let’s hope and pray that this very English of traditions flourishes for many more generations to enjoy.