WINCHESTER DIOCESAN GUILD.

GUILDFORD DISTRICT’S TOUR.

In order to get in touch with some of the outlying towers in the Guildford district, a ringing tour was arranged for Whit-Monday [May 24th], and proved very successful. The towers selected were Newdigate and Capel, close to the Sussex border. In the absence of the Ringing Master (Mr. A. C. Hazelden), who was in Spain on business for his firm, Mr. W. R. Melville, chairman of committee, was in charge, assisted by Mr. R. Whittington, District Representative of Cranleigh. Newdigate was reached about 11 a.m., and touches of Grandsire Doubles, Plain and Kent Treble Bob Minor were brought round.

At Capel, the ringers were met by the Vicar, the Rev. C. F. Carver, who gave them a hearty welcome. There is a promising young band here, just able to ring, and they are being instructed by some of the members of the old change ringing company including Mr. E. Jordan, one of the band who rang the peal of 10,080 changes of Minor in 14 different methods in the early days of the Winchester Guild. The methods rung were Grandsire Doubles, Plain Bob and Kent and Oxford Treble Bob Minor. A move was then made to the district meeting at Ewhurst, passing through Ockley where there is another ring of six bells, but unringable, the bell frame being in a very unsatisfactory condition.

The bells at Ewhurst were available at 3 p.m., and a service was held at 4.30, conducted by the Rector, the Rev. A. J. Hamlyn who also gave an address. The Guild form was used, with special hymns from the mission hymn book. Tea was provided on the lawn of the Crown Inn, 40 sitting down.

Ringers were present from Guildford, Godalming, Clandon, Cranleigh, Ewhurst, Wimbledon, Seale, Shere and Haslemere. After tea there being no business to be done, the ringers again visited the belfry, and indulged in various methods till about 8 o’clock when the company dispersed, thoroughly satisfied with the day’s outing.

The Ringing World No. 795, June 18th, 1926, page 380