10^th Anniversary at the

Cathedral Church of St German, Peel

Back in the 1990’s there was no bellringing in the Isle of Man.  There were a few towers with more than one bell, and 8 in St Germans in Peel, but these had been silent for more than 80 years since the wheels of two bells had been cut to enable the fitments for the church clock. 

Then in 1993 Sam Ferris, a recent convert to ringing in the UK, came to Peel.  He did some research and found that there were a number of ex-ringers living around the Island and there would be a lot of interest in restoring the bells and setting up a new band.  In a remarkably short time a Trust was set up to raise the considerable amount of money required and, in a leap of faith, an order made with Taylors of Loughborough to remove, recast and rehang the 8 bells (despite the fact that at that time the fund had not even raised enough to cover the deposit).

Much of the preparatory work, transport, and completion was done by local volunteers, with Sam Ferris directing the work and getting involved in every part of it.  The bells arrived back in the Island on Feb 3^rd, were blessed by the bishop, and each named for a Celtic saint.  The bells were then hoisted into place and were ready to be rung for the first time on Thursday 12^th February 1998.

On Tuesday 12^th February 2008 a special service to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the recasting and rehanging of the bells was held in the presence of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor at the Cathedral.  Also invited were as many of the original donors to the Trust and volunteers as we could now locate, together with local Commissioners and MHKs (Member of the House of Keys – Manx Government), and it was very pleasing to see the cathedral full.  Before the service a quarter peal of Plain Bob Major was rung with Geoff Riglar, the original Ringing Master, conducting.

Further celebrations continued at the end of the week with a quarter peal of Cambridge Surprise Minor being rung at St George’s church in Douglas, whose 12 bells were installed in 1999, following the astounding success of the Trust in raising approximately £90,000 for both projects.  A striking “competition” was held for the first time on the Island with the two teams raised being a mix of abilities, towers and visitors and amazing all with the quality of the striking.  A further quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples was rung and the celebrations rounded off by a most enjoyable dinner attended by 25 people.

Quarter Peals:-

12^th February  2008

Cathedral Church of St German, Peel

1344 Plain Bob Major

1. John A W Bayliss

2. Mary Riglar

3. Ernest W Runciman

4. Timothy A Mann

5. Annette Thackray

6. Marion Lawrence

7. Howard C Goss

8. Geoff Riglar (conductor)

First quarter inside in method 6

15^th February 2008

St George’s Church, Douglas

1320 Cambridge Surprise Minor

1. Marion Lawrence

2. Mary Riglar

3. Annette Thackray

4. Timothy A Mann

5. Robert J Taylor

6. Geoff Riglar (conductor)

First quarter in method 1

First quarter inside in method 3

16^th February 2008

Cathedral Church of St German, Peel

1260 Plain Bob Triples

1. Natasha Cushing

2. Mary Riglar

3. Annette Thackray

4. Robert J Taylor

5. Timothy A Mann

6. Geoff Riglar

7. Howard C Goss (conductor)

8. Richard J Payne

Some of the local and visiting ringers who celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the Cathedral bells