The Use and Abuse of Church Bells; With Practical Suggestions Concerning ThemBlunt, Walter
Religion
The Use and Abuse of Church Bells; With Practical Suggestions Concerning Them
Blunt, Walter
Bell towers -- England; Change ringing -- England; Church bells -- England; Church of England
Another difficulty which will be likely to present itself in many places,
is the provision of a fixed yearly salary for the Ringers. But the
difficulty, however great, is as nothing in proportion to the benefits
which will accrue. And while the accomplishment of the object is worth
any effort and almost any sacrifice, the difficulty will seldom be found
so great as it may at first sight appear.
In a parish which had six Bells, where the price of labour was at about
the average rate in country towns, where the population was between four
and five thousand, the great majority of which were Church people, and
where there was a double daily service, (without which I do not suppose
that the system would do much, if any good)—the whole annual expense was
less than £19. But it is evident that the expense would be different
for different parishes: in fact, for one fixed element in calculating
the expense there are three variable elements. The fixed element is the
number of ordinary days and Holy Days in the year. The variable elements
are, 1, the ordinary price of labour in the parish: 2, the number of
Bells: 3, the average number of Marriages and Burials—which must of
course be dependent upon the number and character of the population.
In making a calculation of the proper amount of salary, the price of
labour should, for obvious reasons, be reckoned higher than that usually
paid in the parish, and the number of Marriages and Burials at above the
average, in cases where _all_ have not been brought to Church; inasmuch
as any such return to consistent holy practice, if done in a Christian
loving manner, is sure to win the affections of the people.
For raising the required amount, whatever it may be, a well-affected
parish would doubtless contribute something from its “Rates”—if not
_all_, as the law requires it to do. There might also be a collection at
the Offertory, once or twice a year, for the purpose:—and there might be
“a Ringers’ Box” placed in the Church, under the lock and care of the
Minister and Churchwardens, to receive contributions of “the faithful”
toward defraying the expenses of this part of Divine worship.—Lastly, in
parishes which are moderately well endowed, the Priest may well take it
into consideration, whether he may not duteously and beneficially devote
some _small_ portion, at any rate, of the income which is entrusted to
him for the furtherance of the spiritual well-being of his flock, to the
honour of GOD and the welfare of His people, in this so very important
branch of His service.
[1] There is evidence that in the Sixteenth Century one hour was not too
long for the short peal after the death, and half an hour for that at
the burial; but the writer has found from experience that a much shorter
time is now advisable, at any rate in commencing the system.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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