Ringing appeal

Published on 13/09/2012 00:00

YESTERDAY a Peal of Bells was rung at the old St George’s West Church in Edinburgh in tribute for the late Donald Gorrie, who died at the end of last month.

He had been a Liberal Democrat councillor in Edinburgh, a Member of Parliament, and a Member of the Scottish Parliament who was highly respected for his character and independence of mind.

In earlier years, Donald and I consulted with each other over several local issues. The Peal of Bells was a full one, lasting three hours from 6pm to 9pm. Going back in time: in 1836 the kirk session of St Andrew’s Church on George Street discussed a complaint that had been made against the bell ringers of that church.

It was said that the bell ringers, who were put into place and employed by the town council, after ringing the bells on Sunday morning, often repaired to a public house on Clyde Street and were there engaged in drinking during a part of the Sabbath.

The kirk session expressed their highest disapprobation of this conduct and the matter was investigated by the police.

My own feeling is that if the ringers had spent three hours pulling on ropes in the small and claustrophobic bell tower, a pint might not have been out of order.

Much later in time: one Sunday morning at Carrick Knowe Church the telephone rang just before the service of worship at 11am. When I answered, a voice said, “Is this the church, and are those your bells that are ringing?” “Yes,” I said. “They’re electronic, the bells.” “Well,” the voice went on, could you turn them off please. I’m trying to sleep.”

The secular world is irritated that the church still exists and that people still believe in the gospel. It is for them irrational and inconvenient. The church and its bells wake people up. So let’s have more pealing! Otherwise different voices and different sounds, often intolerant and sometimes violent in texture will come to dominate our lives.

William Clinkenbeard

Western Harbour 
Breakwater

Edinburgh