Dear Friends,
After the usual round of Annual District Meetings at the beginning of the year, I have been reflecting upon some of the sentiments found in the hymn “Unchanging God”, which we usually sing with great gusto to the tune “Belfry Praise”.
As a Guild we are beginning to gear up to the challenges and opportunities that await us in the coming Millennium, not least those posed for us in the “Ring in 2000” initiative supported by the Central Council, and Open Churches Trust, in the fields of presentation of our ancient art, and in recruitment and training. You will doubtless read of these plans elsewhere in this report.
Whilst we live in a world of seemingly rapid change and technological advances over recent decades, the hymn reminds us of the eternal and unchanging nature of the Godhead whose good news and love for us in Christ Jesus we proclaim in the ringing of the bells of our Churches throughout the Guild.
“We raise the Bells for ringing with ready mind and will, and come before Thee bringing our hearts, our strength, our skill”.
We obtain great joy and pleasure from our ringing and service, and I hope it is something we can seek to share with others in the recruitment drive leading up to 1st January 2000. Like the Christian faith, its something caught not taught, where your enthusiasm can inspire others.
Fortunately new technology has not replaced our efforts, however the advent of ringing simulators can be a boon in teaching bell handling and striking without the need to disturb the church’s immediate neighbours, a boon in what is an increasingly sensitive area for some.
“We call from Tower and Steeple upon the Day of days, all faithful Christian people to worship, prayer, and praise”.
The aims, purposes, and hopes with which our Guild was founded in 1879 remains for the most part unchanged, and indeed stand us in good stead as we look forward to the future. Sunday Service Ringing remains our primary purpose and justification, and “by union free and willing” the furtherance of our art is achieved. Working collectively as one “befriending one another”, we do indeed together become “a strong and steadfast band”, well able to meet the opportunities and challenges of future years.
I have been much encouraged of late by the ongoing work of education and training being offered around the Districts, and by the way that we are beginning to get to grips with surveying our bells and fittings, and doing all we can to maintain them in good order. Your fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Bell Restoration Fund have enabled us to make many worthwhile grants towards restoration and installation projects.
By them we show that we are committed to preserve our heritage and encourage the art of ringing well into the next Millennium. That is certainly this Master’s Prayer, and I hope also our Heavenly one!Barry J Fry