Bell News and Ringers' Record Saturday , November 3, 1883. p370
THE RAUNDS, WELLINGBOROUGH , AND DISTRICT SOCIETIES.
In July last [1883], through the efforts of the Rev. Hugh Bryan, M.A., Vicar of Raunds— a thorough lover of bells and bell music— a meeting was held at Raunds, and a Society formed for Raunds, Wellingborough, and district. The Ven. R. P. Lightfoot, M. A., Archdeacon of Oakham and Vicar of Wellingborough, willingly accepted the office of President of the Association; the Rev. J. P. Goodman, Rector of Keystone, was elected Treasurer; and the Rev. Hugh Bryan undertook the duties of Honorary Secretary. The attendance being but small at the opening meeting, it was determined to hold another in October. This took place on Tuesday, the 23rd ult., at the parish church of Wellingborough, by the kind permission of the Ven. Archdeacon Lightfoot, who is himself a ringer, and takes great interest in the Society. Ringing commenced at 9.30 a.m., and was continued at intervals till 7.30 p.m. Ringers attended in force from Raunds, Higham Ferrers, Burton Latimer, Rushden, Irthlingborough, Finedon, Kettering, Earl’s Barton, and Doddington; representatives from each place managing to get a pull at some time or other during the day.
Considering that the visitors were none of them accustomed to bells of such weight, the striking was, on the whole, very good. All seemed pleased with the “go” of the bells. There was some little complaint regarding the difficulty in hearing the treble and second bells, they being up in the spire above the back four. The grand old tenor (a good specimen of the work of Watts, of Leicester, “the foremost in his art”) is accounted the heaviest bell in the county, and its full, mellow sound was generally admired. On the other hand, the harsh, discordant tone of the third bell was equally condemned. The general opinion of ringers regarding these bells is that the addition of two trebles would make a fine ring of eight. Besides adding to the music, this would render it much easier work for the tenor-man. At one o'clock a capital luncheon was provided in a room at Freeman's schools (kindly lent by the Archdeacon), to which clergy, honorary members, and ringers sat down, to the number of fifty. This was followed at 2.30 by Evensong at the parish church. As customary at Wellingborough, the bells were “failed" and chimed for the service. The sermon was preached by the Ven. Archdeacon Lightfoot. In a brief but practical and pithy discourse, the Archdeacon pointed out the true uses of the bells, and the true position of the ringers as church officials on a par with the choir ; desiring those present to remember their honourable office, and live upright consistent lives, worthy of churchmen and
churchworkers ; and requesting them to bear in mind at all times that the belfry was apart of the house of God. therefore not the place for lightness and levity. The offertory was in aid of the funds of the Association. Next came the business meeting, the Archdeacon presiding.
The Rev. H. Bryan, the energetic Honorary Secretary, gave an account of the formation and origin of the society, explained its objects, read the rules, and made some practical remarks on the subject of the reform of belfries, alluding to the evils that formerly arose and in some cases still arise, from ringing-lofts. The thanks of the Society were given to the Archdeacon for the use of the Church and bells. It was decided that the next meeting be held at Rushden, early in May next. At the conclusion of the meeting new members were
admitted. The Society now numbers over twenty honorary and fortytwo ringing members. The following were present during the day :the Revs. Canon Barker (Rushden), R, S. Baker (Hargrave), F. B. Newman (Burton Latimer), J. P. Goodman (Keystone), F. Ball (Wollaston), G. M. Edmonds (Stoke Doyle), and the local clergy. Also W. W. Baillie, Esq. (Oundle), Mr. Henson (churchwarden, Finedon), G. H. Burnham, Esq. (churchwarden), and Dr. W. W. Clarke, T. Cook, Esq., Mr. John Askham, and Mr. E. J, Dennes (sidesmen of the parish church, Wellingborough). There has not been such a gathering of ringers in Wellingborough for many years. The Irthlingborough men brought their handbells, which were kept going during the evening. All seemed to spend a most enjoyable day ; and, what may be considered the inaugural meeting of this newly formed Society was generally acknowledged to be a complete success.
Extracts from The History and Art of Change Ringing (Ernest Morris) p. 245 & meetings table compiled by Bryan Williams
The Raunds, Wellingborough and District Society of Church bell-ringers was formed by the Rev. Hugh Bryan, Vicar of Raunds, and the opening meeting is dated July 5, 1883.
Meetings
1883 05-Jul Raunds
23-Oct Wellingborough
1884 19-May Rushden
1885 11-May Finedon
1886 17-May Raunds
1887 16-May Ringstead
01-Aug Rushden
1888 01-May Kettering
1889 Whit Monday Wellingborough
1890 Whit Monday Denford
30-Aug delegates at Priory Room Wellingborough
06-Sep delegates at Boys School Finedon
25-Oct Keystone
1891 07-Feb (?)
Whit Monday Earl’s Barton
(?) Kettering
24-Oct Raunds
1892 13-Feb Warkton
Whit Monday Rushden
1893 Whit Monday Higham Ferrers
1894 Whit Monday Irthlingborough
1895 Whit Monday Kettering
On Whit-Monday, 1895, at the annual meeting, held in Kettering, it was decided to change the title to “The Central Northamptonshire Association”.
[A transcript of the Society’s minutes were compiled by Bryan Williams from the records and are available from the webmaster]