THIS year marks one hundred years since the bells in Holy Trinity Church, in Skipton, were recast and a series of events in town over the next few months will mark the centenary.

The church is home to Skipton bellringers and the tower has housed a ring of bells for centuries.

But in 1921 the eight old bells were recast and fitted in a new frame by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough.

After a hundred years the bearings were in need of replacement and last week the same company returned to fit these with the help of local ringers.

With lockdown restrictions reducing, the bells are now able to ring out across the town and begin celebrations.

In 2021, Skipton bellringers are holding a Festival of Bells to celebrate the anniversary and introduce more people to the group.

A spokesman said: “They are hoping that this will generate an interest in bellringing and encourage more local people to join the band.

“Adults and young people from the age of about 11 would be made very welcome and full training will be given.”

An exhibition on the history of bells and belllringers in Skipton is currently on display in Skipton Library and a selection of bellringing artefacts can be seen in the community case at the newly refurbished Craven Museum.

On Saturday, June 26, a hands-on event about bellringing will take place in the museum where visitors can have a close-up look and feel of the ropes and the mechanics of bellringing, unravel the mystery of change ringing diagrams and have a go at ringing handbells.

Places need to be reserved via the museum at www.skiptontownhall.co.uk

Further events are set for later in the year. There will be a Festival Service attended by the Bishop of Ripon on July 18.

A Bellringing demonstration and taster day will be held at the tower, now rescheduled to September 11, when there will be displays in the church and activities including hands-on bell handling.

An evening demonstration lecture on will also be held in the museum in September.

Skipton ringers will take part in a celebratory quarter peal, when Covid restrictions allow and centenary celebrations will conclude with a peal attempt in February 2022 to mark the centenary of the first peal on the new bells.

More details on the festival and other events on the bellringers’ Facebook and Instagram pages:

Facebook: Skiptonbellringers

Instagram: ht_bellringers_skipton