Bells, Tower and Teas will be held at Upton Bishop church on Saturday 3rd June, from 2.30pm. There will be a chance to enjoy the peace of a country church and churchyard with a cup of tea and a slice of cake; to listen to the handbells and the church tower bells. For the more adventurous, there is an opportunity to climb to the ringing tower and have a go, or to dare to go on up to the top of the tower.

One of the Upton Bishop bell-ringers told the Ross Gazette: “When I was invited to be an extra adult while the children had a go at ringing the bells at Upton Bishop, I never thought I would be swept up in the excitement.

“Bell ringing? That’s for other people isn’t it? I’d wound my way up the steps of the tower before so I knew where the ringing chamber was, and the chamber above where there would be a clock if we had one. I had seen the bells hanging in all their magnificence high up in the tower and even ventured up the last steep steps to the roof to see the view and to look down at the tiny people below in the churchyard.

“This time I suddenly found myself standing in front of a rope, being shown how to hold it and finding out what it feels like to pull down and make the bells chime. Around me were people speaking a new language, talking about the ‘sally’, the ‘handstroke’ and ringing ‘rounds’. I wanted to know more so I went again the next time, and the time after that. I was hooked.”