The St Mary’s Bell Ringers

The Bell Ringers at St Mary’s Old Town

The Bellringers of St Mary’s, Old Town

Our Tradition in Sound
Perched in the Norman tower of St Mary the Virgin, Old Town — Eastbourne’s parish church for nearly a thousand years — our bellringers keep alive a rich heritage that connects past, present and future. Since at least the mid-17th century, the peal has grown and changed, echoing through Church Street and Lawn’s Avenue. In 1651, St Mary’s had six bells; by 1818, they were increased to eight.

Who We Are
We are a dedicated group of volunteers of all ages who meet weekly to practise and ring for Sunday services, weddings, funerals, and special civic moments. Our Tower Captain, Ann Wright, has been ringing for over forty years, and the group includes those with many decades of experience as well as newer learners.

How We Ring
Our bells are full-circle bells, operated by ropes and wheels. Each ringer pulls a rope in turn — a handstroke and backstroke — to rotate their bell through a full circle. The patterns we follow are determined by ‘methods’ or ‘changes’ that order which bell sounds when. Memorising these, and ringing as a team, takes practice, precision and focus.

On certain solemn occasions — for example the death of a sovereign or bishop — the bells are ‘fully muffled’, producing a hushed, reverent sound; on others, like Remembrance Sunday, they are ‘half-muffled’ to achieve a distinct echoing effect.

Why It Matters
Bell-ringer families have shaped the tradition in Old Town, especially the Lewis family. Tom Lewis first rang here at age 14 in 1859, and decades later in the 1890s, peals were rung with an entire team composed of Lewis brothers and relatives. The bells mark time — Sunday worship, weddings, national occasions — offering both continuity and celebration.

Join Us
If you've ever wondered about what goes on in the bell-tower, or fancied trying bell-ringing, we would love to welcome you. Ringing keeps your brain active, builds teamwork, offers a unique craft that combines physicality, rhythm and memory. Many ringers describe it as both meditative and lively.

Practice Nights: Every Tuesday, 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the tower. Access via spiral staircase.

Sunday Ringing: 9:00 - 9:45 am during service.

No special strength or experience needed — just patience, willingness to learn, and love for the sound.