Faith

Bells

Bell ringing challenge appeals to local churches

Phil Simpson and the BBC Hereford and Worcester “Sunday Breakfast Show” team came up with the idea of the big bell-ringing challenge in October 2004.

Phil Simpson

They wanted to do their bit to help raise some cash for the BBC Hereford & Worcester's "Money Marathon Appeal" – bringing in funds for the four adult hospices covering the two counties.

Phil says "Our aim was to get as many churches as possible in the two counties to ring their bells at the same time.

"We didn’t know whether they’d be willing to take part – but the response was amazing.

"There are two local Bell-Ringing Guilds – and they were very helpful, right from the start.

"They sent out forms and got in touch with key contacts across the two counties, and gradually we started to build up a list of churches wanted to join in.

"We didn’t specify how much money they expected each church to raise in sponsorship, but decided instead to leave each group of bell-ringers to get as much cash as they could." 

With many churches holding fund-raising events for the tsunami appeal, Phil and the team wondered whether it might have an impact on the bell-ringing challenge.

But in the end there were around fifty churches taking part on the morning of Sunday 30th January.

Katie Johnson, the presenter of BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Mid-Morning show, encouraged folks to sponsor the bell-ringers – and on the morning of the challenge, she visited St Anne’s Church in Bewdley.

Bell ringers at St John Baptist Church

Meanwhile, Andy Haynes, who produces the Sunday Breakfast Show, took the radio car to St John the Baptist in Strensham, South Worcestershire.

Their bell-ringing team included an eight-year-old girl, Alice, the youngest person taking part in the challenge.

Sue Broome and Deb Roach from the BBC Hereford & Worcester's CSV Action Desk helped co-ordinate everything, and coped with all the admin.

They’re currently getting sponsorship totals from the churches who took part.

It seems likely that the final total could be several thousand pounds.

"It’s fantastic", says Phil Simpson.

Bell ringer

"It just started out as a crazy little idea – but I've been so impressed with the enthusiastic response from so many churches across the two counties.

"I'd like to say a really big thank you to everyone for making this such a success."

If your church took part, please send the money you raised to the BBC Hereford & Worcester's CSV Action Desk.

Any cheques must be made payable to one of the four hospices who are benefiting from the "Money Marathon Appeal":

Listen to a round-up of the actual bell ringing challenge taken from Phil Simpson's Sunday Breakfast show, by clicking the link on the right hand side of this page.