Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers

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The York Herald, Monday July 5th 1875

The Yorkshire Association of Bell Ringers.

On Saturday last the quarterly meeting of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers, was held at Mr. Allan's, the Punch Bowl Inn, Stonegate, in this city, when upwards of 200 ringers from Bradford, Birstall, Bingley, Calverley, Earls Heaton, Doncaster, Guiseley Hall, Malton, Kirk Deighton, Hunsingore, Hunslet, Leeds and various other places attended. Through the kind permission of the Dean and Chapter the bells of the Cathedral were placed at the service of the ringers during the great part of the day; likewise the bells of the following churches: - St Martin's Coney street; Bishophill; and St Phillips and St James, Clifton (all of have peals of eight), upon merry peals were rung by the various sets of ringers. Being the market day the country had the pleasure of hearing some capital ringing. The hand-bells, which were placed in the large room of the Punch Bowl Inn, were kept going during the day, and great many visitors listened to some splendid ringing, especially in the evening.

A first class luncheon was provided by the local committee at the above inn. Afterwards the quarterly meeting was held. Mr W H Howard was in the chair, and Mr Joseph Underwood occupied the vice chair.

The Chairman said the first business was to elected a suitable place for their next quarterly meeting, and asked if any gentlemen had a place to propose.

Mr John Rowsby of Malton proposed, and Mr Thomas Cooper seconded, that the meeting be held in September at Malton. Mr H T Jowitt of Birstall, proposed that town as the locale, which was seconded by Mr H Hubbart, jun, of the same place. No other place was proposed, and on being put to the meeting Birstall was carried by a large majority, only twenty voting for Malton. The Chairman then made some suitable remarks with regard to the bell ringing, urging upon the ringers the necessity of forming a society to embrace the whole of Yorkshire, and proposed that such a society should be organised to carry out the science of ringing to the utmost limits.

Mr. Charles Jackson of Hull seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously.

Delegates will be sent from each town to attend a preliminary meeting at the Ring of Bells Inn, Leeds, the first Saturday in August, when a code of rules will be drawn up for the regulation of the proposed society of bell ringers in the county of York.

Mr Whittaker of Leeds, proposed: - "That this meeting of Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers beg to tender their best tanks to the Dean and Chapter for the use of the bells of York Minster, and for the permission of inspecting the Crypt, Chapter House, and other parts of the Cathedral; also they would respectfully desire to impress upon their attention the desirability of making the Minster peal of bells ringable, as it is found that it is utterly impossible for men to ring them in their present state.

Mr Cheetham, Bradford seconded the proposition.

Mr Charles Jackson proposed a vote of thanks to the York Society of Bellringers for their kind reception, and their endeavours to oblige the ringing visitors of the West, East, and North Ridings, which was seconded by Mr James Crabtree of Shipley, near Leeds, supported by Mr Whitaker, and carried without a dissentient voice.

Ringing on the various church bells was carried on till late hour in the evening.