You can ring our bells

By Laura Joint
BBC Devon

Wanted: bellringers to carry on the tradition at Kenton church

The current set of bells at All Saints in Kenton have rung out for 262 years and a recent refurbishment should ensure they chime for another 262.

Whether there will be any bellringers left to ring them, however, is another matter.

There aren't enough ringers in the area to go around, which means the teams of Kenton and Exminster band together.

On one Sunday they'll ring at Kenton and the next at Exminster. They also ring the bells at Powderham, too.

Mike Adams has been bellringing for 55 years and is tower captain at Grade I listed All Saints Church, which dates back to the 1370s.

There are 44 steps to the ringing room at All Saints

He was just 11-years-old when he started and said he had little choice in the matter really: "My father was a bellringer, my maternal grandather was a bellringer and his father was a bellringer too," said Mike.

"My brother Colin is a ringer at Exminster. So you could say it's in the blood."

Mike teaches bellringing and only recently trained up four more people - but more are needed to learn the ropes.

On Saturday 28 November 2009, Kenton is holding a bell tower open day from 10am to noon for people to try it out.

"There are six bells at Kenton and eight at Exminster," said Mike. "We don't have enough regular ringers to do both so we have to alternate. Powderham doesn't have a ringing team so we ring the bells there as well.

"I have taught dozens of people in my career - the youngest was 10 and the oldest was in their 70s, and I've taught both men and women. So there's no barrier."

The current bells at Kenton were cast in 1747 by Thomas Bilbie. In 2000, the bells were sent away for retuning at a cost of £24,000 and are now as good as new.

All Saints Church dates back over 630 years

The ringing room is halfway up the bell tower - 44 steps up, to be precise. "I'm 66 and have been going up there since I was 11 and it hasn't done me any harm," said Mike.

"You don't have to be superfit or strong."

The Kenton ringers are CRB checked (Criminal Records Bureau) so are able to work with children, who are needed for the future of bellringing.

"We don't have any real youngsters at the moment," said Mike. "I would encourage them to come along with their parents.

"We wouldn't turn anyone away. It's difficult to teach more than two or three at a time but if 10 turn up, we'll give it a go.

"I suppose it's a bit like fishing really - you'll either be hooked or it won't be for you at all."

Mike believes village life just wouldn't be the same if the bells fell silent: "For over 250 years, church bells have been a central feature of village life.

"They ring for joyful and sad occasions and mark significant local and national events.

"England would be poorer without the sound of church bells."

Kenton Bell Tower Open Day
Saturday 28 November 2009
10am to noon
Free of charge