The Tewkesbury Branch is one of 12 branches that make up the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of church bellringers. We are a small, friendly group and are always keen to welcome new members.
If you would like to know more about bellringing in general or about ringing in the Tewkesbury area please get in touch using the contact details below.
Most of us have one or two towers that are our “home” tower(s) but we also join in with ringing at neighbouring churches.
In “normal” years we have at least one branch ringing event each month giving us the opportunity to get together with ringing friends from other churches. Due to the impact of Covid-19 and the consequent lockdowns, tower bell ringing of any sort has been very limited since March 2020.
Restrictions permitting, we aim to have a branch programme for 2022 that will include as many of our usual events as possible: branch practices; mini outings to churches a bit further afield; an in-person AGM; social events; quarter peals and “firsts fortnight”. At all times we will be trying to minimise the risks presented by Covid-19 and therefore the events may need to be run in a slightly different way than in the past.
Some of our towers currently have restrictions/guidelines in place about mask wearing, lateral flow tests and so on therefore we would ask you to please contact the tower secretary or tower captain before travelling to the tower to join the ringing.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Sheila, Phil and Greg (Branch ringing masters)
October 2021
| Jan 11 Tue | 7:30 pm | Join the practice at Tredington |
| Jan 24-30 | All Day | G&B Winter school via Zoom |
| Feb 7 Mon | 7:30 pm | Branch practice at Ashleworth |
| Mar 5 Sat | Morning | G&B Branch Officers' Meeting at Barnwood |
| Mar 12 Sat | All day | Association Training Day |
| Mar 23 Wed | 7:00 pm | Branch practice at Eldersfield Branch Spring Meeting in the church (8:30) |
| Apr 2 Sat | All Day | G&B Association AGM Penn and Croome Trophy competitions |
| Apr 23 Sat | 10:30am | Branch practice at Woolstone |
| May 22 Sun | Afternoon | Afternoon Mini Outing Ringing at Elmore (6) 2:15 – 3:15pm and Longney (8) 3:30 – 4:30 Lunch beforehand possible - TBA |
| June 2-5 | various times | A celebratory weekend of ringing for the Queen’s platinum jubilee. Details TBA, with guidance from Central Council. A single day may be chosen for ringing. |
| July 18 Mon | 7:30pm | Branch practice at Hasfield |
| Aug 14 Sun | Afternoon | Afternoon Mini Outing Ringing at Leonard Stanley (6) 2:00 – 3:00m and Horsley (8) 3:30 – 4:30 Lunch beforehand possible - TBA |
| Aug 22-28 | All Day | G&B Summer school via Zoom |
| Sept 10 Sat | 4:00 pm | Branch striking competition at Tirley |
| Oct 8 Sat | All Day | G&B Autumn Training Day |
| Oct 15-30 | All Day | "Firsts Fortnight" and Peal and quarter peal festival |
| Nov 12 Sat | 3 pm | Branch AGM - Kemerton 3 pm Ringing followed by a business meeting Arrangements regarding a service, refreshments and the location/time of the business meeting will be agreed later. |
| Dec 9 Fri | 7:30 pm | Branch practice at Sandhurst (Glos) |
Some of our towers currently have restrictions/guidelines in place about mask wearing, lateral flow tests and so on therefore we would ask you to please contact the tower secretary or tower captain before traveling to the tower to join the ringing.
Tewkesbury Branch Towers |
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| Branch towers
with regular practices and / or regular Sunday service ringing To hear samples of some of the bells of the Tewkesbury Branch, click here |
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| Ashchurch, St
Nicholas [GL20 8JZ]
8 bells, 12cwt tenor Sunday: 10:30, please confirm first Practice: Friday 19:30, please confirm first Website Contact: Margaret Wise (01684) 772095 Entrance through church Car park at end of church driveway Toilet in church |
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| Ashton-under-Hill*,
St Barbara [WR11 7SX] 6 bells, 7cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday third and fourth 19:30 Contact: Nick Hopkins (01386) 710136 Entrance at far side of tower Park carefully on road |
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| Beckford*, St John
the Baptist [GL20 7AD] 6 bells, 14cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday first and second 19:30 Website Contact: Nick Hopkins (01386) 710136 Entrance at far side of tower Small car park at front of church |
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| Deerhurst, St Mary [GL19 4BX] 6 bells, 11cwt tenor Sunday: second 10:30; fourth 17:30 Practice: Tuesday 19:30 confirm first, alternates with Tredington Contact: Richard Hart (01684) 274197 Entrance to right of main church door Small parking area by church gates |
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| Eldersfield,
St John the Baptist [GL19 4NP] 6 bells, 18cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Thursday alternately 19:30, please confirm first Contact: Janet Peters (01452) 840211 Ground floor Entrance through church Small car park next to church |
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| Hasfield,
St Mary [GL19 4LG] 6 bells, 10cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: by arrangement Contact: Garrod Davies (01684) 296305 Ground floor Entrance through church Off road parking at front of church |
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| Kemerton,
St Nicholas [GL20 7HX] 6 bells, 12cwt tenor Sunday: 08:30, last 10:15 (confirm first) Practice: Tuesday 18:30-19:30 confirm first Contact: Dave Devereux (01684) 850329 Ground floor Entrance through church Park carefully on road |
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| Tewkesbury,
Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin [GL20 5SR] 14 bells, 27cwt tenor Sunday: 9:30-10:30; evensong by arrangement Practice: Thursday 19:30 Website Contact: Ruth Bagley (01684) 293764 Entrance via small outside staircase and intercom Car park in Gander Lane Toilets in Visitor Centre and Gloucester Rd car park |
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| The Leigh, St
Catherine [GL19 4AF] 6 bells, 18cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday 19:30 Contact: Phil Cotton (01452) 857180 Entrance through church Some off-road parking opposite church Toilet in base of tower |
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| Tirley, St Michael
and All Angels [GL19 4HH] 6 bells, 10cwt tenor Sunday: First of the month, 10:30-11, phone to check arrangements Practice: Tuesday 19:30-21:00, please confirm times first Contact: Garrod Davies (01684) 296305 Ground floor Entrance through church Off road parking at front of church |
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| Tredington, St John
the Baptist [GL20 7AB] 6 bells, 8cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday 19:30 confirm first, alternates with Deerhurst Contact: Jim Mitchell (01684) 296773 Ground floor Entrance through church Park away from main road which can be busy |
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| Twyning,
St Mary Magdalene [GL20 6JJ] 6 bells, 10cwt tenor Sunday: 9:00 Practice: not currently practising Please confirm in advance with tower contact Contact: Mrs M Storey (01684) 299607 Entrance at far side of tower Car park to right of church gates |
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| *Ashton-under-Hill and Beckford
share a band. When there is a fifth Tuesday in the month the practice is at Overbury, Worcs, St Faith: 6 bells, 9cwt Park on road near church |
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| Towers outside the Tewkesbury Branch which are closely supported by Branch members | |
| Ripple, Worcs, St Mary [GL20 6HA] 6 bells, 12cwt tenor Sunday: 4th 10:00 and special occasions, confirm first Practice: generally 2nd Monday 19:30, Please confirm in advance with tower contact Contact: Joan Payne (01684) 297251 Entrance through door at base of tower and through kitchen Car park at front of church |
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| Strensham, Worcs, St John the Baptist [WR8 9LW] DO NOT FOLLOW THIS POSTCODE WITH A SATNAV OR YOU WILL END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVER! 8 bells, 11cwt tenor Sunday: none Practice: generally 3rd Saturday, Please confirm in advance with tower contact Contact: David Bagley (01684) 293764 Entrance at base of tower Car parking by church |
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| Branch towers with unringable bells | |
| Boddington,
St Mary Magdalene [GL51 0TJ] 3 bells, 9cwt tenor Chimed only |
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| Chaceley,
St John the Baptist [GL19 4EH] 6 bells, 11cwt tenor Unringable |
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| Forthampton,
St Mary the Virgin [GL19 4QW] 6 bells, 12cwt tenor Unringable |
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| Staverton,
St Catherine [GL51 0TR] 3 bells, 9cwt tenor Chimed only |
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The central council website also provides a number of helpful guides here.
