The bells of St Clement’s are ringing again on Monday evenings as Dartmouth’s Bell Ringers resume their full normal service after Covid restrictions.

The pandemic silenced all three sets of Dartmouth church bells – St Clement’s, St Petrox and St Saviour’s – for 14 months as the country endured multiple lockdowns. As restrictions were lifted the bell ringers got back into place from April this year, at first for their Wednesday night practice at St Saviour’s.

The bells in Dartmouth – six at St Petrox, six at St Clement’s and eight at St Saviour’s – are all used to celebrate Dartmouth, national and international events. Most recently the bells joined with other church and cathedral bells up and down the country at the start of the COP26 Climate Change summit - to ring out a warning against the dangers of not doing anything to bring about change.

Tim Chapman has been tower captain, in charge of the bells and ringers, for 24 years. Presently there are 12 ringers.

He said: “We’re now at that point where all Dartmouth ringers have been taught to ring by me. Back in 1978 I started bell ringing at St Clement’s and from there I moved on to learn not only how to ring a bell, but also bell maintenance, how to call patterns and mix up the tunes on the bells, and also took part in a number of bell ringing competitions.

“Church bell ringing to some people is an art. To others it’s exercise, and another view is that it’s mental stimulation - that can keep you on your toes as you enter your twilight years. I like to think it’s a combination of all three with a huge helping of fun thrown in for good measure.”

Church bell ringing is a long-established part of Dartmouth life. There was bell ringing at the first Regatta in 1822 and, 176 regattas later, the bells are still the Regatta alarm clock that wakes the town up after the 8am gun has been fired at the Royal Dart Yacht Club.

As tower captain, Tim also maintains the bells and bell frames. He said during lockdown, when they weren’t allowed to ring, they were able to repaint the headstocks and metal fittings on the old wooden bell frame at St Saviour’s, for the first time since 1938.

Of the 20 bells in the three churches across the parish, the oldest three are in St Clement’s, dating back to around 1500. The heaviest bell, weighing in at just under a ton, sits in the tower of St Saviour’s.

Tim said anyone can learn to bell ring, and he’s worked with people with mental health conditions who’ve found learning to ring helped their recovery.

He added: “The big thing when you are younger is that you can reach the rope! And there’s no maximum age. I have taught, and am currently teaching, people in their 80s. If they have the drive and desire to learn, bell ringing is perfect for that. I’m also teaching young teenagers.

“On average it takes about six weeks to get the hang of things, then a further year to build yourself into a confident bell ringer. Once you feel confident in the practise sessions you get to ring on a Sunday morning – that keeps the vicar happy! – and then for weddings and other important occasions.”

“We have a team who support each other both in the tower and outside. And it’s through that great friendships are formed.”

“Everyone is welcome to the practice sessions at St Saviour’s on a Wednesday evening from 7.30pm.”