James Holdsworth
 

Bellringers Marcus and Florence Guthrie with tutor James Holdsworth

Will church bells be silent?

SILENCERS could be slapped on a set of church bells.

Halifax Parish Church bell ringers are worried residents could be brassed off with the efforts of learner ringers.

Now plans are under way to turn down the volume on practice sessions, with full sound reserved for proficient bell ringers and special occasions.

Mr John Bryant, church ringing master, said: "We currently have large numbers of learners who require lots of time on the bells.

"We want to ring a bit more and we are very aware of the fact that if we ring for any length of time we can get complaints."

Ms Angie Hodgkins, licensee of the Ring O' Bells, next to the church, is delighted by the news.

She said: "Practice night is wrong note night. You can't hear yourself think. If they could do it silently that would be perfect.

"We've been threatening to take the clangers out. I wouldn't want them to stop completely but it can be annoying."

Some say the Parish Church bells can be heard as far away as Elland.

At the moment beginners train once a week and more experienced ringers usually perform twice on Sundays, at weddings and other religious or civic events throughout the year.

But the noise levels of the church's 12 bells are now being assessed, so sound control can be installed, allowing an increase in ringing sessions. The volume could be turned up when necessary.