| The Bell Project |
Help us to keep the Cathedral bells ringing
We have been raising money to carry out essential maintenance work on the existing 10 bells. However, we would also like to add more bells so that we, like many other English Cathedrals, have 12 bells to ring.
One of our aims is
to become a centre for ringing excellence in North Kent and across
the Diocese of Rochester and adding 2 bells will enable us to move
towards this goal. Being able to ring on 12 bells is
regarded as the ultimate aim for all bell ringers and we would provide
the Diocese of Rochester with its first ring of 12 church bells.
We also want to create a lighter octave to practise on. This will make it easier to train ringers with the bells either sounding as normal or being linked to a ringing simulator for silent practice. To do this, we want to get a third new bell which will enable us to ‘change key’ and ring a lighter set of 8 bells in the key of A major.
To achieve this aim, we need to raise a further £60000 in order to get the new bells cast and provide the necessary framework and fittings to enable them to be rung.
You can make a contribution by visiting our Just Giving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rochester-cathedral-bells
Rochester Cathedral Bells Centenary Project
Rochester
ME1 1SX
Cheques should be payable, please, to “Rochester Cathedral” with “Bells Fund” written clearly on the back of the cheque.
`Why do the bells
need maintenance?
The bells themselves
do not need maintenance as bells can last for hundreds of years. The
Cathedral bells were cast in 1921 and were hung in their current
frame in 1960. However, when this work was carried out, it resulted
in a very large rope circle in the ringing chamber so the way in
which the ropes fall means that it is not easy to see every other
ringer from each bell rope.
We want to improve
this circle to make the sighting better. We also want to ensure that
the bells are no longer oddstruck, in other words they are sounding
either slightly earlier or slightly later than they ought to. This
makes it difficult for less experienced bell ringers to get their
bell to sound at exactly the right moment. Another issue we want to
deal with is the fact that the sound of some of the bells dominate
over the others when all the bells are ringing making the overall
sound unbalanced.
Some of the fittings
are also getting worn out. The ropes we pull on to ring the bells
run through pulleys which are showing signs of wear. The wheels
which the ropes attach to are also showing signs of damage caused by
aging.
Finally, we would
like to improve the environment in the Ringing Chamber. This room,
in the tower below the level of the bells, is where the ringers
actually ring the bells from. The
lighting in this room is not very good, and it also has very dated
carpet tiles which are in need of replacing.
I
In order to achieve
these aims and help to establish Rochester Cathedral as one of the
foremost ringing centres in Kent we will need to raise £100000. We
have already raised £40000 which will help improve the way that the current bells ring.
Now we would like a further £60000 to provide North Kent and the Diocese of Rochester with its first ring
of 12 church bells and provide a legacy for teaching and furthering
the art of bellringing at Rochester Cathedral.
Examples of what a donation may provide:
| £20,000 | “Maximus sponsor" |
% A new bell and associated fittings (subject to availability) with an inscription acknowledging the gift of the sponsor |
|
£15,000 |
“Royal
sponsor” |
%
A new bell (subject to availability) with an inscription
acknowledging the gift of the sponsor
|
|
£
10,000 |
“Major sponsor” |
% Employing a professional bell-hanger to carry out the necessary work with a plaque in the Ringing Chamber acknowledging the gift of the sponsor |
|
£ 5,000 |
“Platinum donor” |
%
Replacement headstocks (subject to availability)
%
Frame
improvements and painting % Providing the fittings necessary to hang a bell (subject to availability) |
| £ 2,000 | “Gold donor” |
%
New ropes
%
Improved
lighting in the Ringing Chamber
|
| £ 500 | “Silver donor” |
%
Replacement clapper to improve overall sound balance
%
Replacement pulley box
%
Repairs to bearings
|
|
£
250
£
200
£
150
£
100 £ 50 |
“Donor” |
%
Greatly valued contributions towards any of the above
and additional hidden costs, e.g. transport,
scaffolding, lifting gear, accommodation for bell hangers... |
We do hope you may wish to make a contribution. Every donation, however small, will help towards us to attain our aim to mark the Platinum Jubilee and to carry out the essential work to kepp the bells at Rochester Cathedral ringing out for future generations.
You can make a contribution by visiting our Just Giving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rochester-cathedral-bells
Rochester Cathedral Bells Centenary Project
Rochester
ME1 1SX
Cheques should be payable, please, to “Rochester Cathedral” with “Bells Fund” written clearly on the back of the cheque.
If you would like to find out more or have any questions about the project, please contact us.