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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-12-18, Page 331 INSIDL CHILDREN AND CHRISTMAS 1 ./ , Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Lambton THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOLS Second Section Sound of church bells a rare treat at any time of the year By Adrian Harte EXETER - The notes of a Christmas carol peal out across the town. Many peo- ple may stop, listen, and smile, but not really give the sound of the bells another thought. In actual fact, the sound of a carillon of bells ringing from a church tower is quite rare in this part of the province. Some churches and clock towers have made use of electronically simulated bells, or those activated mechanically, bit in the tower of Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church tin re hangs a set of 10 bells to be played by hand, just as they were 101 years ago. In 1890, Thomas Trivitt, the first clerk of Stephen Township, decided to further extend his generosity to the two-year old church which was erected in his name. An order was placed with the McShane Foundry of Baltimore, Maryland for a set of 10 bells, which even- tually cost $2,800; an enormous sum considering that the entire church was built for about $5,000. The total weight of the bells is 7,419 pounds, the largest of which, the "great bell" weighs 2,019 pounds alone. The inscription on that bell reads "When our rich tones you hear,/ Those noble names endear,/ Who brought and placed us here -I Thomas and Elizabeth Trivitt./ A.D. 1890." Dr. John Goddard, who is one of today's bell ringers, says that there is a legend surrounding the installation of the bells. With Trivitt on his death bed, workers rushed to get the bells operating so that their benefactor could hear them. When asked what he thought of the playing of the chimes, Trivitt is claimed to have said "I wished I'd died last week". Goddard says there is no way of knowing today whether that tidbit of folklore is true, or even based on fact. However, since the chimes were operating as of December 1990, and Trivitt did not pass on until July 1894, there is probably good reason to suspect some exaggeration has crept into the tale over the years. Thomas Trivitt and his wife Elizabeth were laid to rest in a crypt beneath the church floor. Church organist and choir leader Robert Cameron maintained and played the bells from 1947 to 1965, said Goddard. But after then the bells sat silent for over 20 years. Rev. Duke Vipperman, who took over as rector in 1986, expressed interest in bringing back to life the Huron Diocese's only carillon other than those in St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Ontario. "One day he [Vipperman] said to me 'the bells are "urs. Fix them up and play them'," explained God - rd. With the help of Jack Snell, new cables and springs were installed to get the set back into working order. Snell's daughters, Tracy and Terri, were recruited as new ringers to carry the interest in the carillon into the future. Pushing the levers to move the heavy strikers onto the bells is, understandably, hard work. There are only 10 notes, corresponding to the key of F, so all tunes have to be chosen carefully. To date, about 50 hymns, carols, and traditional bell -tower peals have been transposed for use in the tower, although a church booklet suggests up to 150 tunes were in use in at one time. Some have even dared to suggest the Exeter church's chimes possess a richer sound than those in London, which are said to be "tinny" in comparison. Although few people today make the climb up the spiral staircase to see the bells, at one time the carillon was described as "the main tourist attraction of Exet- er" Rev. Fay Patterson, the present rector of the church, agrees that the significance of the bells is perhaps lost on much of the present population. "It's a very special monument that's here. People in Exeter should be proud of it," she said. While the playing apparatus on the second floor of the tower has since lost the sheen of the original "fine- ly finished oak" and the sparkle has gone from the sil- ver note markers and the "handsome brass hinges", Ex- eter residents can still take comfort in the fact that the future of the bells is being ensured. The bell tower of the church was restored this year to repair decay in its brickwork to the tune of $60,000. Further work to the decorative windows will also help to keep out the ele- ments. However, keep in mind that the tower is not heated. Those who volunteer to ring out the carols this week do so bundled up in coats, scarves and hats, but warmed by the fact they are bringing a little traditional Christmas cheer to the community. Ten bells, cart In BaKlmore In 1890, still hang In the Anglican church tower. The largest "great" bell, weighs over a ton. The smallest weighs 220 pounds. The bells are played with lever -operated strikers, but the largest bell can still be rocked with a pull rope to make use of its Internal clapper. The six largest used to be rung In this manner for "peal" ringing, but have long been blocked with ropes disconnected. Three for women, six for men EXETER - While only a handful of people play the bellg, in the tower of Trivia Memorial Anglican Church today, there was a time when there must have been a whole legion of them, or per- haps it was hoped there would be. A list of rules and regulations regarding the op- eration of Exeter's newest and proudest landmark was published in December 1890. Ringing the bells must have been a privilege, because members of the so- ciety were required to pay 25 cents just to belong. Some other amusing excerpts from the rules are reprinted here: •Each ringer shall pay 5 cents per month, which mon- ey shall be paid at the belfry, on the last Monday of the month throughout the year. This money shall be kept for a dinner or supper when the society thinks proper. •Each ringer shall attend at the belfry at 8 o'clock p.m. every Monday throughout the year unless a different time is appointed at the last ringing night, for the pur- pose of improving them- selves in change ringing. •Each ringer shall pay a fine of 5 cents for being more than 15 minutes after 8 o'clock on a practice night, and he shall be fined 10 cents if he don't [sic] appear in the belfry on such nights nor give 25 hours notice one of the ringers (sickness or fire excepted). •Any ringer entering the belfry DRUNK OR DISOR- DERLY or being incapable of ringing his bell through DRUNKENNESS will be fined 25.cents. •Rules for Church service: Keep Town time. Thirty minutes before Service the great bell will be rung for five minutes, then the Chimes will play until five minutes before the hour of commencing service. The great Bell will then toll until the hour, finishing with four notes down the scale, begin- ning with the highest. •For Funerals the great Bell will toll three strokes for a female, and six for a male M. After a pause the age of the deceased will be recorded in the time of twen- ty beats to the minute. Dr. John Goddard (left) watches as Terri and Tracy (right) Snell play Christmas carols on the chimes in the Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church tower. The bell tower of Tilvltt Memorial Church Is the only church in the Anglican Diocese of Huron to have a carillon of bells, aside from the cathedral In London. Due to their expense, such bells are rare in Canada.