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Ballarat Bellringers

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About Us - A Brief History

The year was 1891, and around the world great change was afoot. The Dalton Gang were aboard the Southern Pacific conducting the first great train robbery, Britain was being linked to the continent by telephone, and the 1st world weightlifting championship was being held. Across Russia Jews were fleeing their homes as they were expelled by cossacks, and work on the trans-Siberian railway began. Thomas Edison patented both the motion picture camera and the radio, and in Mino-Owari 7,300 japanese died in a massive earthquake.

Meantime in Ballarat the Bell Tower at the Town Hall had turned twenty years old, and the foundation stone for St Peter's Tower was being laid. In Whitechapel, three years after the streets had been haunted by Jack the Ripper, the new bells were being cast at the Mears and Stainbank foundry, each bearing a cast-in inscription. Nothing is without a cost, however, and the expense of the tower and bells was covered by the benefactor Mr James Fry. Construction was completed and dedicated on July 3, 1892.

For the better half of a century only six of the eight originally commissioned bells were rigged for full circle change ringing, with the remainder having been hung dead. In 1960 the third bell was removed for recasting before being dedicated again and ringing continued as before until July 3, 1966 when all the bells were returned to Whitechapel foundry for retuning. A new bell frame of steel was constructed at the same time to enable full circle ringing, and upon return of the bells a full eight bell change rang out for the first time. The event made front page news in the next day's "The Courier", sharing space with such other headlines as "France Explodes Nuclear Bomb - Protests Follow", "U.S. Jet Over N-Bomb Site", and "Digger Killed: Another Dies in Borneo Mishap". It seems even amid the doom and gloom, the bells could sound a peal of hope to the community. up

Venues

Town Hall
Ballarat Town Hall
Sturt St
Ballarat

Tower Constructed 1871




St Peters Church
St Peters Church
Sturt St
Ballarat

Tower Foundation Stone Laid 1891




News & Events

The eminent Ballarat Bellringers can be seen practicing at the Town Hall every Friday evening, and performing their task every other Sunday. In addition they also sound the bells for annual civic events such as Christmas and festivals, as well as prestigious one-off occassions. Below is a calendar noting what days you may find them toiling at their tolling.

ST. PETERS & TOWN HALL   -   


Practice Church
Practice Hall

Play Church
Play Hall + Church

Annual Civic
One-off Civic

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When Eight Bells Toll

Think you might have what it takes to be a bell ringer? Quite possibly you do. You don't require great strength or an advanced understanding of advanced calculus, (although you are still welcome to join in if you do!) you merely need a sense of rhythm, memory and concentration. Coming from all professions, ringers range in age from twelve to ninety.

Why not give it a go from the comfort of your own chair? Have a go at following the score below by clicking on the different bells. Confused? Don't worry, if you want to try it for real, you can always follow someone's lead.

Score

bell  bell  bell  bell  bell  bell  bell  bell 

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Bell Inscriptions

The following inscriptions adorn the eight bells at St. Peter's

  1. First Bell - (Their dedicated character)

    There shall be upon the Bells
    Holiness unto the LORD.

  2. (Their two spheres of Service)

    Praise God in His Sanctuary,
    Praise Him in the Firmament of His Power.

  3. (Their Call to Religion in Daily Life)

    With loving voice I call to Church and Prayer,
    And bid the living for the grave prepare.

  4. (Their Call to the Redeemer's Glory)

    Let CHRIST be known around
    And loved wher'er we sound.

  5. (Their Loyal and Civic Aspiration)

    Prosperity attend Victoria's shore,
    Let Ballarat flourish now and evermore.

  6. (For Religious and National Loyalty)

    May all in truth and harmony rejoice,
    To honour Church and King with heart and voice.

  7. (The Donor's Aspiration)

    For mercies undeserved this Peal is raised,
    And may Thy Name, O God, through CHRIST be praised.

  8. Tenor - (The Record of the Gift)

    To the Honour and Glory of God
    This Peal of Eight Bells was given to
    St. Peter's Church Ballarat, by
    James Fry, MDCCCXCII.

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