Page 66 - Phonebox Magazine April 2011

Combined Churches of Olney
Pancake Race
MEMBERS FROM THE Baptist church joined in the Pancake race this year – Mrs Bev Field was running for local charity, Milton Keynes Foodbank, her daughter Hannah helped publicise and do the admin for sponsorships. Bev and Hannah would like to thank everyone in the church and community for such whole hearted support and encouragement, as well as sponsorship to run the Pancake Race. It was a lovely sunny day and a fun run. So far the total raised for the Food Bank is £610. Please give your donations to Hannah. A big thank you to everyone!
Bellringing in Olney Parish Church
Easter meditations at the Baptist church
Feeling frazzled? Come to our Easter meditations at the Baptist church, an oasis of peaceful reflection. There will be three opportunities to take time out and have a spiritual ‘breather’, running from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st April, starting at 8pm, the theme is ‘The Trials of Jesus’.
Easter at Olney Baptist Church
This Easter Sunday the theme is ‘The price is paid’, with Easter praise in the evening. A warm welcome awaits you at Olney Baptist Church, with family friendly services every Sunday morning, a blend of contemporary and traditional worship with thought provoking and relevant Bible teaching. Refreshments after the service – we would love to get to know you.
Over the last few months I have been boring you all with details of how we ring bells and how we teach people to ring. You will be delighted to hear that I am now moving on. From time to time I have alluded to the recent extensive project to improve the bells both for the present band of ringers but, most importantly, for the future.
The ring of 8 bells in place before the project was started was something that had evolved over many generations and we were very conscious of our duty to preserve and continue this heritage to pass on to future generations. It would be a poor service to the Church and to the Town to have neglected this obligation.
A ring of bells is a very large and extremely heavy musical instrument which constantly requires maintenance, as does all such equipment, in order not to fall into disrepair and even suffer irreparable damage, even when it is not in use. I am intending to write a piece next month summarising what was done over the course of the project. For now I just want to give you an idea of where we were at the start.
The 20th century saw 2 major pieces of work undertaken on the bells. In 1903 2 new bells were added to make a ring of 8 bells and the existing wooden frame altered to accommodate the extra bells. Then in 1931 all 8 bells were re-hung with some new fixtures and fittings but still in the original wooden frame. Some 77 years later the fixtures and fittings, wooden wheels, bearings, headstocks, pulley blocks and clappers, were in a state requiring complete replacement. In addition the wooden frame in which the bells hung and which had been built up over the centuries required replacement as the massive 24 inch square oak foundation beams were rotting where they sat in the stonework.
By 2007 the set of bells in the tower were very hard going, difficult to ring and, most importantly, virtually impossible to teach new ringers on –
especially the youngsters who are our future – so it was decided that we must try to refurbish them. The teaching aspect has always been one of the most important of the project objectives and we are delighted that it has already reaped rewards in three extra new, young ringers now becoming more proficient week by week.
The old frame had to be replaced for the reasons given above and the wood was scientifically dated when this was done. It turned out to have come from a tree felled in 1626. One of the few sections of this frame in good condition has been preserved and is now installed in the ringing chamber as shown in the picture. You will also see to the right of the picture one side of the clock pendulum case and, on the left hand side, a monitor and CCTV camera, both of which I shall be mentioning in future articles.
All are welcome to visit us on practice evenings – or come and try ringing for yourselves – on Mondays from about 7 – 9. Alternatively, find out more from the website www.olneybells.co.uk which includes contact details if you have any questions.
Ringing News
On Saturday, 19th March starting at 10am a Peal of Grandsire Caters will be attempted by the Kent County Association conducted by Roy LeMarechal from Bishopstoke in Hampshire. The Peal is expected to take over three hours to complete. “Caters” describes the number of bells in action and it means 9 bells will be ringing changes with the tenor bell ringing in 10th place throughout. I will report next month on the outcome.
The ringers are preparing themselves for the spring and summer influx of weddings and with it the ringing to celebrate the joy of marriage. This year we have the usual demand for Saturday weddings as well as one booked for a Friday and another for a Sunday.
A local band is intending to attempt a peal during the usual slot on the 3rd Saturday of April which will be 16th April.
We shall be ringing to celebrate a very special wedding on 29th April as a token of our best wishes to Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
Looking further ahead, we are planning to open the tower to visitors on Cherry fair day at the end of June and look forward to welcoming as many of you, our readers, as possible to see the bells and ringers “live”.
66 Phonebox Magazine
Olney Churches Together
Welcome to our Sunday
services:
Olney Baptist Church:
High St. (opposite the Market Square) Rev Ian Field 713880
10.30am Family Worship
6pm Evening service www.olneybaptist.org.uk
Cowper Memorial URC:
Mrs Brenda Hustwait (01933) 222708 Sunday Morning at 10.45am Communion on first Sunday of month www.cowperurc.org.uk
SS Peter & Paul:
Sunday worship at 10am every week with Communion on 1st, 3rd and 4th Sundays, and Evensong at 5pm More at www.olneyparish.org.uk Reverend Claire Wood 713308
The Catholic Church of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Lawrence: Father Malcolm Bull and Church administrator, Sister Rita Scott 711212 Saturday Mass at 6.30pm
Sunday: Mass at 10.30am Benediction 4 - 5 pm at the Convent