A peal was performed at All Saints’ Church in Westlegate by bell ringers, who rang the bells continuously in more than 5,000 different sequences. The peal typically takes three hours to complete and was conducted by David Brown. The church is maintained by the Norwich Historic Churches Trust (NHCT) and has been redundant since 1973. Currently, it is used as an antique center and cafe. The church’s tower houses a set of six bells with one dating back to 1647, which has been moved and put on display at St Martin at Palace Plain. The bells were restored and have been maintained to ring for church services, with the bell ringers of St Giles Church practising there once a month.
Among those who took part in the peal was NHCT ringer and trustee Chris McCarthy, who highlighted Norwich’s long tradition of bell ringing. The first peal actually took place in Norwich, which used to compete with London. The first peal at All Saints’ Church in Westlegate was rung in 1920. Mr. McCarthy emphasized the importance of generating more interest in the cityscape of medieval churches, which are significant as a collective. NHCT is planning a larger event in June 2024 and will be inviting people to St Margaret’s Church in St Benedicts Street. The restoration of the grade I listed building has cost nearly £800,000, and NHCT is hopeful that the work will be completed next spring. The church closed in 1975 and has been used as a gym and an art exhibition over the years, with hopes to include a piano bar in the future.
The peal at All Saints’ Church in Westlegate was part of Norwich’s long tradition of bell ringing. The first peal in Norwich, which used to compete with London, took place in the city. The peal was conducted by David Brown and lasted for three hours, with the church being maintained by the Norwich Historic Churches Trust (NHCT). The church’s tower houses a set of six bells, with one dating back to 1647. The bells were restored and have been maintained for church services, with the bell ringers of St Giles Church practicing there once a month. NHCT is planning a larger event in June 2024 and will be inviting people to St Margaret’s Church in St Benedicts Street, with the restoration of the grade I listed building nearing completion.
NHCT trustee Chris McCarthy emphasized the importance of generating more interest in the cityscape of medieval churches in Norwich. The church was made redundant in 1973 and is now used as an antique center and cafe. The first peal at All Saints’ Church in Westlegate was rung in 1920, and Mr. McCarthy emphasized the significance of medieval churches as a collective. The restoration of St Margaret’s Church in St Benedicts Street has cost nearly £800,000, and NHCT is hopeful that the work will be completed next spring. The church has been used as a gym and an art exhibition over the years, with hopes to include a piano bar in the future.
