OS: SE226806
Masham, St Mary the Virgin
The Church of the St Mary the Virgin, Masham (pron: mass-em) is a large church in the west of this small market town in lower Wensleydale. The entrance to the large attractive churchyard is at the west end of the market square. The church backs onto open countryside and just a short walk from the River Ure. There is parking in the large market square.
The tower is a large very solid affair and when I commented on this to one of the ringers he said that it was an example of a fortified tower. We entered the tower through a door in the west face and then a wooden spiral staircase to the ringing room.
2011-04-10 [ expand ]
My first visit was on Sunday 10th April 2011 to join their weekly service ringing. I was made very welcome and it was just as well that I was there since we only had 5 ringers. We rang bells #2 to #6. I rang all of them for a variety of Plain Bob Minimus, Plain hunt on 5 as well as rounds and call changes. All the bells were nice and easy to ring.
The Bells
The tower has a ring of 10 bells with a tenor weighing 13-1-21 in F♯. Dove's Guide includes details of the bells at St Mary the Virgin and more information is provided by the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers.
| Bell | Inscription | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Dove's Guide to the bells at St Mary the Virgin |
From Black Sheep and first to sound Whitechapel 1998 The Sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out John 10:3 |
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| 2 | Then comes Bob Broudley in the round In memory of R F Broadley (Bob) 1928-1997 A true man of Masham Whitechapel 1998 |
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| 3 | Masham Millenium we will chime In memory of Mallabys bellhangers who in 1862 augmented this ring to eight Whitechapel 1998 |
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| 4 | As ten bells ring on into time The gift of the ringers Whitechapel 1998 |
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| 5 | Look to my brethren whilst the peal I lead In grateful thanks to the people of Masham, and others, who made this Milleniium project possible. Whitechapel 1998 |
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| 6 | We to the tribles motions must take heed J.H. 1766 | |||
| 7 | In various courses we are taught to range J.H. 1766 | |||
| 8 | In singles dubbles and in tripples change J.H. 1766 | |||
| 9 | Of every peal is rung by different scheme. James Harrison of Barrow C wdens 1766 Will Wrather, Jos Calvert, Thos Smothwaite |
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| Tenor | Of dodge and bob and rounds at the extream J.H. 1766 Edmoises vic momento mori |
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