CREDITON Parish Church will host the national final of the premier "method" bell ringing competition in the country on Saturday, June 26.

The selection of Crediton for the 12-Bell Striking Contest, is regarded as a huge honour for the town and the church and shows how highly regarded the restored bells of 2004 and 2007 are nationally.

Prior to 2004 Crediton had eight bells cast locally and dating from 1774. These were removed at Easter 2004 and melted down with the metal being reused in the casting of 10 new bells that were installed in October 2004. Two more bells were added in January 2007 and since then many bellringers from across the country have visited Holy Cross.

The consensus is that the Crediton Bells are one of the finest peals in the country. All the new bells were cast at the world famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.

This year 21 teams from around the country competed in qualifying heats at three venues in London at the end of March.

The nine teams of finalists who have qualified to come to Crediton are ringers representing: Ancient Society of College Youths, Birmingham St Martins Guild, Cambridge, Leeds, Melbourne, St Martins-in-the-Fields, Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, York and Exeter Cathedral.

It is the first time that Exeter Cathedral ringers have qualified for the final since 1997.

Two Crediton residents, Geoff and Sue Sparling, are members of the Exeter team.

The couple moved to Crediton in October from the Wirral, on Merseyside, but have been bellringing for more than 40 years, generally about three or four times a week.

Geoff (63), said: "Bellringing is very good exercise physically and mentally and there's an excellent social life".

He said he was "excited but apprehensive" about taking part in the final.

The couple have rung in three previous finals, in 1987, 1988 and 1990 when the contest took place in Liverpool.

Sue said: "We came third out of eight in Liverpool and were very pleased with that. We're not expecting to win this year but it would be nice if we did."

More than 400 bellringers are set to visit Crediton for the 36th annual contest.

Crediton rector, Nigel Guthrie, said: "We have only become a 12 bell tower in recent years so it is a particular privilege to be hosting this final for the first time.

"Although our promotion to 12 bell status is recent we know that bells have been rung in Crediton for many centuries.

"In 1315, Bishop Stapleton ordered the bells to be rung to celebrate the miraculous healing of a blind man at the church here."

The teams competing in Crediton will have 30 minutes to familiarise themselves with the bells and complete their 12-minute test piece of 288 changes of "Cambridge Surprise Maximus", which four judges will mark on accuracy of striking.

The judges will have an audio feed from the bell chamber and a playback recording facility so that they can play these back during their deliberations towards the end of the day.

Ringing will take place at Crediton from 11.30am to 4.30pm on June 26.

The team of ringers, from Birmingham St Mary's Guild, will possibly start as favourites before a bell is struck as they have won this competition the most times in recent years.

More than 50 volunteers will be helping with arrangements, including catering, stewarding, car parking, selling commemorative programmes, First Aid and manning an information point.

Refreshments will be available at various venues throughout the day, including lunches and Devon cream teas at the Boniface Centre.

Many local businesses will be providing food and drink, including The Beer Engine, Sandford Orchards, Cobley Farm pasties, Cox's butchers, Four Seasons, Quickes Traditional Cheeses and Redhill Farm apple juice.

Overflow car parking is being made available by kind permission of Crediton Rugby Club.

A Sung Eucharist, with the Holy Cross choir will take place at 5pm, after which will be the announcement of the results and presentation of certificates and the Taylor Trophy to the winning team.

alan-quick@crediton

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