All Saints’ bells ring out again

By Press Release Aug 25, 2021

The six bells at All Saints’ Church, Freshwater, have rung again for the first time since lockdown.

The day was also a centenary occasion for the Isle of Wight District of The Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers.

Tower captain, John Smith, said: “The ringers received very positive comments from parishioners – they were delighted to hear all six bells ring out in their majestic glory over Freshwater once again.”

He was joined by David Cobbett, Richard Fenton and Lesley McMahon-Hathway along with visitors Graham and Viv Nobbs, members of the All Saints’ Church, Ryde, band.

The heaviest bell in the Freshwater Church ‘ring’ is the ‘tenor’ which was cast in 1895 weighing in at around 16cwt.

To mark the centenary, after attending the service with Rev Sandra Lloyd officiating, several of the ringers rang handbells for a few minutes on the site of the former Gillings Restaurant in School Green Road. The location was close to the Railway Station in 1921 so it would have been convenient for mainland ringers to start the journey home after tea.

All Saints, Freshwater, is looking to teach new ringers again; for more information contact Viv Nobbs on 530920 or email wp.public.relations.officer@gmail.com.

Header image All saints Freshwater bell ringers