Bell ringing has gone on for many a year in Market Lavington Church and still continues today. But full peals are not often rung. A peal board (which hangs in the church tower – we just have the photo in the museum) records one in 1928.
A peal board which hangs in the tower of St Mary's, Market Lavington with a photo at Market Lavington Museum
As can be seen, the method rung was Grandsire Doubles and each ringer produced 5040 rings from their bell and all in the ever changing but correct order. It takes some stamina to stand and ring for over three hours for there’s no chance to take a break.
Let’s take a look at the people who rang this peal.
We have met John Hampton Merritt before. He was the Market Lavington Prize Silver Band leader for 60 or more years. He also ran a cycle shop on Church Street.
The Reverend Sturton was Market Lavington’s vicar from 1906 to 1940. It was not unusual, once, for Vicars to be ringers as well.
R A Baker is a bit of an enigma. Can anyone help us know who he was?
A F (Alf) Burbidge is well known to the museum for he lived in the cottage which we now occupy. He was a gardener and heavily involved in village life.
H S (Harry) Parsons who conducted this peal lived on White Street. We’d like to know more about him as well.
J E (Joseph) Gye was another White Street resident. He was carpenter, undertaker, wheelwright etc. He was also father of Tom Gye who is the widower of museum founder, Peggy Gye. Tom was a bell ringer, himself, for 70 years.
Tags: bells, church, Market Lavington, Museum
Market Lavington Museum 
December 16, 2010 at 10:46 am |
John Merritt when i was in Lavington as a kid taught me to play the cornet.
I remember John walking the Lavington Streets and playing music but not with an instrument but simply by pursing his lips making the sound.
My grandmother once told me how John got told off in the Sunday service for not singing the hymn but making the noise of a brass instrument along with the singers.
October 10, 2011 at 5:25 am |
[…] Jo Gye […]