A NOVEL PEAL OF BELLS.
In many parts of England, bell-ringing has of late years made great strides as an art, and has been taken up, studied, and practised by a class of persons who, from their intelligence, education, and position, are altogether very different from the ‘bell-ringers’ of the olden day. We now constantly hear of the ‘Society of Diocesan Bell-ringers for the Diocese of So-and-so;’ and on inquiry, we shall find that the members of these Societies are mostly professional men, men in business, respectable tradesmen, and suchlike, and very often clergymen as well. A remarkable instance occurred recently where the ringers were clergymen. This interesting exhibition took place on Thursday the 2d of October, at the village of Drayton, near Abingdon, Berkshire, where there happens to be a peal of eight fine bells in the parish church, of which the Rev. F. E. Robinson is vicar, and to whose energy and spirit this experiment is due. The clerical ringers were all members of the ‘Ancient Society of College Youths of London,’ and the ‘Oxford University Society of Change-ringers,’ both Societies being celebrated for their skill in this art. The peal rung is technically described as ‘Thurstan’s peal of 5,040 Stedman Triples true and complete;’ and this took nearly three hours to accomplish, and was conducted by the vicar, who himself rang bell number seven.