The harmonic minor ten at Worcester Cathedral are a haunting and powerful instrument. Rung half muffled they evoke a sense of memory, reminding us of our mortality and the call of the dead to be remembered. During this time of reflection marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War these remarkable bells have been heard across the Faithful City.
The Cathedral Guild, ringers from the King’s School and Simon Rudd’s group from Norfolk.
Our ringing on the minor ten started with a quarter peal of Grandsire Caters on 3 November before our All Souls’ Service. We rang again before the Cathedral and Civic service of Remembrance on 9 November followed by a peal of London Surprise Royal immediately after the Last Post and two minute silence. After Monday’s practice we rang again on 11 November after the Armistice ceremony held outside the Cathedral. We were joined by a group from Norfolk led by Simon Rudd. Their visit was organised to look at and use our Teaching Centre. Our young ringers from the King’s School joined the Cathedral Guild for this important civic ringing.
The inscription on the eleventh bell reads: “RECAST 1928, IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF WORCESTERSHIRE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR, ESPECIALLY J. ROBERT BLAKE & EDWARD S. BLAKE, SONS OF THE RECTOR OF ST. HELEN’S, WORCESTER”.
The Cathedral’s new bells were first rung on 11 November 1928.
Mark Regan
The recast eleventh bell with the Revd John Blake of St Helen’s.
