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-ringing is bell music, created by permutating the number
of the bells. Tunes of course can be played by chiming the bells (ropes attached
to hammers that strike the side of the bell) but that holds no fascination to the
campanologist where the mathematical skill is combined with the dexterity of handling
the rope. In change-ringing every CHANGE is different – for example from 12345678
we might permutate the numbers thus:
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-Ringing started in earnest, a Peal has always been
determined as 5,000 changes minimum. Depending on the weight of the bells this
involves ringing for between two and half and four hours.
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-Anderson, Britten, Pears,
Holst and so many more. What a plethora of skills there! It would be nice to
think that regular Peals can continue on your musical ring and hopefully, apart from
calling people to church, give pleasure too to the listening public.
George Pipe, Past Master of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers & Lay Canon of St Edmundsbury
Cathedral
