Bell ringers from St Andrew’s, Hornchurch and Holy Cross, South Ockendon joined forces to support the National Campaign to ring for the 70th Anniversary of VE Day on 9th May 2015. The ringing took place at Hornchurch and included rounds on 10 and call changes on 8. The event was well supported with 18 ringers from both churches taking part. Congratulations to all involved especially those ringing for a special event for the first time.
St Andrew’s bells have been rung for many Royal occasions over the years.
When 2nd May was arranged as the date to ring a peal for the Royal Birth, we thought that we were going to be too early but when we assembled just before 10.00am, we knew that the Duchess of Cambridge was already in labour.
Anzac Day has always had a special meaning for the residents of Hornchurch in Essex due to the stationing of New Zealand and Maori soldiers there during the First World War.
Letitia and Andrew Smith from the Hornchurch band are now the proud parents of a brand new baby boy, Evan David who was born at 5.15pm on 8th June, weighing 8lb and 5oz. Both parents have rung at Hornchurch for a number of years, Letitia since 1995 when she was 10 and Andrew since 2002.
The District Striking Competition took place at Theydon Garnon on 7th June 2014. We entered a band from St Andrew’s and came second to Dagenham after ringing 240 Plain Bob Doubles. The ringers taking part were Gavin C, Phil, Clive, Rebecca, Alan and Elaine.
On Saturday 17th May 2014 starting at 1pm, the first peal on the new ninth bell was successfully completed in 3 hours and 12 minutes. The method was Grandsire Caters and the new bell was rung by Clive Stephenson who also conducted the peal.
Watch the video of removing the old cracked 9th bell from the tower
The Diocese recently granted us the faculty to replace the cracked ninth bell at St Andrew’s. The bell foundry atWhitechapel were then able to cast the new bell on 22ndNovember but have confirmed that it will not installed until early in the New Year. A few of the bell ringers and congregation were lucky enough to go to watch the casting.
Hornchurch made it into the Essex Association Final!
On the 1st June a team of Hornchurch Bellringers stepped up to compete in the Annual District Striking competition, which this year was at Leytonstone.
One of our bell ringers, Clive Stephenson, had the honour of ringing at Baroness Thatcher’s funeral on 17thApril. He was actually ringing at St Clement Danes in The Strand, which is the RAF church. The bells started ringing as the funeral procession left Westminster and continued until it’s arrival at St Clement Danes where there was a short service. The coffin was then transferred to a gun carriage and the bells rang again as she continued her journey to St Paul’s for the funeral service proper.
