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Bells and Peals
The Appeal of a Peal
I am aware of recent unwelcome publicity from Aldeburgh on the subject of “Peals”. Loving the town, the church and its bells as I do (since childhood in the War) I thought it might be helpful if I explained what a Peal is and why we ringers perform them from time to time.
As most people know, change-
21354768
12537486
21573846
25178364 etc.
It will also be noted that no bell moves more than one place in any one row.
The maximum possible changes on eight bells is a staggering 40,320 but ever since
the 1630s when the Art of Change-
On your bonny eight at SS Peter & Paul’s an average Peal takes about 2 hours 45 minutes, involving intense concentration on the “method” (rather like a piece of music) being rung and aiming to strike the bells as perfectly as possible.
It is this double challenge as it were that fascinates ringers, giving them an opportunity to improve their skills as well as a sense of achievement. Rather like a choir attempting a choral work or an anthem for the first time.
Our ringing is done to the Glory of God as I would like to think are all our skills.
For Aldeburgh one thinks of Crabbe, Elizabeth Garrett-
George Pipe, Past Master of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers & Lay Canon of St Edmundsbury Cathedral
where history is 400 years of Peals