Worcester Cathedral’s magnificent bells
The bells of Worcester Cathedral are one of the finest rings of bells in the world.
The tower contains a ring of 12 bells, four semitone bells and a bourdon bell. Their total weight is over 16 tonnes. 15 of the ringing bells were cast in 1928 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. A new bell, cast by the Westley Group, was added in 2018. The bourdon bell was cast in 1869 and retuned in 1928. It is used by the clock to strike the hours.
The extra bells are used to give other combinations in a major key. Principally a ring of ten in C# and four rings of eight in B, C#, E and F#. We are the only church in the world to have a peal of ten bells in a harmonic minor key. The haunting sound of this combination of bells can be heard on Good Friday, Remembrance Sunday, for the Armistice, on New Year’s Eve and other suitable occasions.
The ring is the fifth heaviest in the world. The bells are hung in the 1869 oak frame which housed the previous ring. This sits on top of a pitch pine structure which directs the forces down onto the supporting corner pillars of the tower. It is referred to locally as the ‘wigwam’.
Ringing Times
The bells are rung before every Sunday morning Eucharist and on Christmas Day between 0930 and 1030. We practise on most Monday evenings between 1830 and 2115. The bells are rung for many other services and special church and civic occasions.
The Worcester Cathedral Guild of Bellringers is internationally recognised for its work. The first purpose-built Teaching Centre in the world was installed in the tower in 2008. Eight dumbbells, linked to tablets, run sophisticated bellringing software, providing a perfect teaching environment.
We welcome ringing and non-ringing visitors on Sundays and Mondays. Please make contact via the form below.
Video
Click through to watch Video clips of the Worcester Cathedral bells
Audio
Worcester Cathedral Clock (1m12s)
The Bells
| Bell | Weight in cwts, qtrs and lbs | Weight in kgs | Nominal in Htz | Note | Diameter in inches | Date cast | Founder |
| 1 | 6-3-10 | 348 | 1468 | F# | 28.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 2 | 7-1-16 | 376 | 1308 | E | 30.38 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 3 | 7-2-20 | 391 | 1235 | D# | 31 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 4 | 7-3-25 | 406 | 1099 | C# | 32.5 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 5 | 8-2-19 | 441 | 980.5 | B | 34.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 6 | 10-0-6 | 512 | 922 | A# | 36.5 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 7 | 12-0-1 | 611 | 823.5 | G# | 39.5 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 8 | 14-3-26 | 763 | 733 | F# | 43.5 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 9 | 20-0-6 | 1021 | 652.5 | E | 47.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 10 | 25-2-10 | 1303 | 616 | D# | 50.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 11 | 34-3-4 | 1771 | 548.5 | C# | 56.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 12 | 48-0-2 | 2445 | 488.8 | B | 63.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 2# | 7-3-3 | 396 | 1385.6 | E# | 30.25 | 2017 | The Westley Group |
| 5# | 8-0-15 | 414 | 1036 | B# | 33.5 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 6b | 10-2-24 | 545 | 871 | A | 38 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| 9# | 16-1-16 | 835 | 692 | E# | 44.88 | 1928 | John Taylor & Co |
| Bourdon | 82-3-24 | 4224 | 437 | A | 76.38 | 1868 | John Taylor & Co |
| In cloister | A | 34.25 | c1480 | Worcester foundry | |||
| In cloister | Eb | 25.75 | 1641 | (unidentified) | |||
| In cloister | C | 30.75 | c1380 | William Burford | |||
| In cloister | Bb | 34.38 | c1380 | William Burford | |||
| In cloister | G | 42.75 | c1380 | William Burford | |||
| In cloister | F | 43.63 | c1475 | John Danyell? | |||
| In Teaching Centre | c.5-0-0 | c 560 | 1092.5 | C# | 29.25 | 1615 | Godwin Baker |
| In Teaching Centre | c.8-3-0 | c 445 | 915.5 | A# | 33.5 | 1693 | John II Martin |
| In Teaching Centre | 0-1-25 | 24 | A | 11.63 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 0-2-1 | 26 | G# | 12.25 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 0-2-12 | 31 | F# | 13.13 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 0-2-26 | 37 | E | 14.13 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 0-3-13 | 44 | D | 15.13 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 0-3-22 | 48 | C# | 16 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 1-0-16 | 58 | B | 17.13 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen | |
| In Teaching Centre | 1-1-10 | 68 | A | 18.25 | 2003 | Petit & Fritsen |
Bell Inscriptions
| 1. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : MATTHIAS Opposite: THIS BELL IS GIVEN / TO THE GLORY OF GOD / IN LOVING MEMORY OF / MARTIN ABELL / A KING’S SCHOLAR / B.1840 – D.1928 / (Taylor’s rectangular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 2. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : JUDAS JACOBI Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 3. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : SIMON ZELOTES Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 4. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : JACOBVS ALPHÆI Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 4b. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : PAVLVS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 5. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : MATTHÆVS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 6. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : BARTHOLOMÆVS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 6b. J : TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH A : D MDCCCLXXV Waist: S : MARCVS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 7. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : THOMAS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 8. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : PHILIPPVS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 / THE WORCESTERSHIRE AND DISTRICT / CHANGE RINGING ASSN. GAVE ME |
| 8b. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT A : D MDCCCLXXV Waist: S : LVCAS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 |
| 9. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : ANDREAS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 / THIS BELL WAS GIVEN BY / MRS. E. THOMAS / AND HER SON / E.P. THOMAS |
| 10. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : JOHANNES Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / RECAST 1928 / TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF / NORMAN OGILVY, PRIEST / SOMETIME RECTOR OF HANBURY IN THIS DIOCESE / BORN OCT. 6. 1839. DIED JUNE 7. 1903. / AND OF / EMILY, HIS WIFE / BORN NOV. 27. 1841. DIED MAY 12. 1926. / AND OF / ALICE, THEIR DAUGHTER / BORN MARCH 17. 1871. DIED MAY 13 1926 |
| 11. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : JACOBVS Opposite: (Taylor’s circular mark) / 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. |
| 12. JOHANNES TAYLOR LOVGHBOROVGH FVDIT ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXIX Waist: S : PETRVS Opposite: THIS PEAL OF BELLS / WAS RECAST BY / JOHN TAYLOR & CO. OF LOUGHBOROUGH / IN 1928 / * * * / W. MOORE EDE D.D. / DEAN OF WORCESTER. / JOSEPH SMITH, CLERK OF THE WORKS / OF THE CATHEDRAL. |
| Bourdon. SVRGE QVI DORMIS ET EXVRGE A MORTVIS ET ILLVMINABIT TE CHRISTVS / JOHANNES TAYLOR, LOVGHBOROUVGH, FVDIT ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXVIII. / IN VSVM ECCLESIAE CATHEDRALIS CHRISTI ET BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS IN CIVITATE ET COMITATV VIGORNIENSI Waist: (four coats of arms – 1) England, 2) the See of Worcester, 3) the Dean and Chapter of Worcester and 4) the City of Worcester) |
Downloads
Detailed history of the Worcester Cathedral bells by Chris Pickford
Contact the Worcester Cathedral Tower
We welcome prospective visiting ringers and new recruits. Visiting bellringers will be welcomed to ring for services, practice nights, outings, quarter peals or peals with the Worcester Cathedral Guild of Bellringers. Read more ›
