St Patrick's Church, Ballymena
Bells
The Church is noted for holding the only peal of twelve bells in Northern Ireland, and also the only twelve in an Irish parish church (peals of twelve exist elsewhere in Ireland, however these are in cathedrals). A bell was in use in the old parish church by the time it was replaced by St. Patrick's, and this bell can be seen, and rung, in the car park of the present church.
A new bell, made specifically for St. Patrick's, was cast in 1866 at the Sheridan Eagle foundry, in Dublin. This bell was moved when a new ring of bells was installed in 1895, and now resides in the church at Lambeg, County Antrim. Change ringing was introduced to the tower in 1895, as a ring of eight bells in the key of E were installed, in memory of Dean Murray, rector from 1865 until 1883. These bells were cast by Mears and Stainbank (of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry).
In 1987, the old bells were sent away to Whitechapel, and recast into a ring of twelve, in the key of F-sharp. The new bells were hallowed on 8 November 1987 and rang out for the first time for the Holy Communion service on Christmas Eve of that year.
The bells are still rung today by a faithful band of ringers, twice on Sundays for the 11.30 am and 6.30 pm services, and for practice on Friday nights.
References
- ^ "About St Patrick's | Parish of Kilconriola and Ballyclug". ballymena.connor.anglican.org. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ "St Patrick Ballymena". BellringingIreland.org. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Ballymena Honorary Society of Bellringers".