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Rules for the Bell Ringers in 1868 - Parish Church, Soham
.
THE
CHURCH BELLS
Below is a copy of a paper which was apparently a draft of rules drawn up in 1868. It is not signed nor fully dated.
PARISH CHURCH, SOHAM. - RULES FOR THE RINGERS.
We the undersigned Company of Ringers, of the Parish of Soham, by and with the consent and approbation of our Vicar and Churchwardens, have agreed to the following rules and resolutions - viz:
I.- Before any person is taken into our Company, his name shall be given to the Vicar and Churchwardens, and if he is approved by them, he shall pay to our fund as entrance money, after which we will endeavour to teach him.
II - If any disputes or misunderstandings arise among the ringers, they shall be referred to the Vicar and Churchwardens, and we agree to abide by their decision.
III - That if any of us should disgrace himself by being guilty of drunkenness, or other immoral or offensive conduct on a ringing day, or in the Belfry, he shall forfeit 2/6 and may be expelled from the Company, if the Vicar and Churchwardens think fit.
IV - No ale, beer, or any liquors of any kind shall on any pretence be brought into the Church or Church-yard ; and if any Ringer is guilty of fighting, quarrelling, swearing, or smoking in the Belfry, he shall forfeit One Shilling.
V - We agree to ring on New Years Day, the Queens Birthday, the Queens Coronation Day, the Prince of Wales Birthday, Christmas Day, the Day on which the Church Treat is held, the occasion of a Confirmation by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, and on any particular occasion which the Vicar and Churchwardens shall desire.
VI - That for £1 given for a wedding we agree to ring one hour, for £2 we agree to ring one hour after the wedding and one hour in the evening ; and if more be given we agree to ring one hour about the middle of the day.
VII - When there is Ringing required for weddings or any other occasions the forfeit for neglect to be as follows : - Every Ringer who shall not be in the Ringing Chamber 15 minutes after the Little Bell and Great Bell have been raised and fallen, shall forfeit 4d, and if one hour later, shall be excluded from all share in any gift.
VIII - That for practising we agree to meet on Thursday nights, from the 23rd of September until the 23rd of March, at Seven o'clock, excepting when we have rung or have to ring during any week for weddings, or other extraordinary occasion, or when any person ( man, woman, or child, rich or poor ) is lying dead or dangerously ill near to the Church, if we are requested by the Family not to ring, and if anyone is not present at the hour appointed he shall forfeit 2d. No practising allowed during Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter, but we will meet on the Evening of Shrove Tuesday.
IX - If any Ringer shall not attend for practise on the night appointed, for the space of Three Calendar Months, unless for some special cause, he shall cease to be a Ringer. And if any Ringer shall refuse to pay his forfeits for the same period he shall likewise cease to be a Ringer and shall not be entitled to any benefit which may have accrued to the Ringers during that period.
X - When the Ringers are required to meet in the Belfry at any given time, every Ringer, who is not present at the time specified after due notice, shall forfeit 4d.
In consideration of the permission given to us by the Vicar and Churchwardens to ring in the Belfry of the Parish Church of Soham, we hereby bind ourselves to observe all foregoing Rules, and to act as such Ringers to the best of our skill and knowledge, and to give one months notice previous to withdrawal.
Below is a copy of a paper which was apparently a draft of rules drawn up in 1868. It is not signed nor fully dated.
PARISH CHURCH, SOHAM. - RULES FOR THE RINGERS.
We the undersigned Company of Ringers, of the Parish of Soham, by and with the consent and approbation of our Vicar and Churchwardens, have agreed to the following rules and resolutions - viz:
I.- Before any person is taken into our Company, his name shall be given to the Vicar and Churchwardens, and if he is approved by them, he shall pay to our fund as entrance money, after which we will endeavour to teach him.
II - If any disputes or misunderstandings arise among the ringers, they shall be referred to the Vicar and Churchwardens, and we agree to abide by their decision.
III - That if any of us should disgrace himself by being guilty of drunkenness, or other immoral or offensive conduct on a ringing day, or in the Belfry, he shall forfeit 2/6 and may be expelled from the Company, if the Vicar and Churchwardens think fit.
IV - No ale, beer, or any liquors of any kind shall on any pretence be brought into the Church or Church-yard ; and if any Ringer is guilty of fighting, quarrelling, swearing, or smoking in the Belfry, he shall forfeit One Shilling.
V - We agree to ring on New Years Day, the Queens Birthday, the Queens Coronation Day, the Prince of Wales Birthday, Christmas Day, the Day on which the Church Treat is held, the occasion of a Confirmation by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, and on any particular occasion which the Vicar and Churchwardens shall desire.
VI - That for £1 given for a wedding we agree to ring one hour, for £2 we agree to ring one hour after the wedding and one hour in the evening ; and if more be given we agree to ring one hour about the middle of the day.
VII - When there is Ringing required for weddings or any other occasions the forfeit for neglect to be as follows : - Every Ringer who shall not be in the Ringing Chamber 15 minutes after the Little Bell and Great Bell have been raised and fallen, shall forfeit 4d, and if one hour later, shall be excluded from all share in any gift.
VIII - That for practising we agree to meet on Thursday nights, from the 23rd of September until the 23rd of March, at Seven o'clock, excepting when we have rung or have to ring during any week for weddings, or other extraordinary occasion, or when any person ( man, woman, or child, rich or poor ) is lying dead or dangerously ill near to the Church, if we are requested by the Family not to ring, and if anyone is not present at the hour appointed he shall forfeit 2d. No practising allowed during Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter, but we will meet on the Evening of Shrove Tuesday.
IX - If any Ringer shall not attend for practise on the night appointed, for the space of Three Calendar Months, unless for some special cause, he shall cease to be a Ringer. And if any Ringer shall refuse to pay his forfeits for the same period he shall likewise cease to be a Ringer and shall not be entitled to any benefit which may have accrued to the Ringers during that period.
X - When the Ringers are required to meet in the Belfry at any given time, every Ringer, who is not present at the time specified after due notice, shall forfeit 4d.
In consideration of the permission given to us by the Vicar and Churchwardens to ring in the Belfry of the Parish Church of Soham, we hereby bind ourselves to observe all foregoing Rules, and to act as such Ringers to the best of our skill and knowledge, and to give one months notice previous to withdrawal.
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