On Sunday 4th June six past and present Pagham bell ringers came together to ring a full peal on our church bells to mark the 50th anniversary of the re-dedication of the bells. This included Jonathan Franklin now from Ringmer East Sussex, Vikki Bulbeck from Windsor, Nigel Woodruff from Wimbourne, Patrick Wills from Coulston; Thomas Raggett and Mike Wake – current Pagham ringers. the peal consisted of 5040 changes in seven different methods and took 2 hours 37 minutes to complete. This followed a short blessing using part of the Re-dedication Service of 50 years ago.

The peal was sponsored in aid of our ‘Raise the Roof’ appeal with the tower open for people to see the ringers in action with tea coffee and homemade cakes served all afternoon, although the ringers had to wait until the end of the peal before they could enjoy their well-earned cup of tea!

For some years up to 1967, when the bells were restored and rehung in a new cast iron frame by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough, the bells had become in such a dangerous condition that they could not be rung. In fact back in 1875 it was reported that the bells were in urgent need of attention. So the re-dedication of the restored bells was a very important occasion in the life of the parish.

by Mike Wake