Bell Ringing - A Job With A Peal
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday July 20, 1992
The steeple of St Andrew's is reached by means of what must be Sydney's most tortuous stairway.
Shoulder wide, but only just, it spirals upward so tightly that one's view is restricted to nothing but sandstone stairs.
It was up these stairs yesterday that eight enthusiastic ringers climbed to help Sydney celebrate 150 years of representative democracy.
At 11.45 am, the bells rang out, and continued at intervals for one hour. By 12.30, the atmosphere was tense in the ringing room wedged halfway up the tower. Eight faces glowed with perspiration.
Around the room, various people stood on boxes to even up their height, much in the manner of the diminutive film star Alan Ladd.
Each held a bell rope, alternating the grip between the sally, the section that is heavily interwoven with wool, and the tail.
"That wasn't too bad," said Mr Alan Champion. "We were at it for 3 1/2 hours yesterday. We rang a peal, which is 5,040 changes."
Mr Champion is a "nominal Anglican" while several of his fellow ringers are lapsed Catholics. None is a regular churchgoer.
"Oh no," admitted Mr Champion. "The only qualifications you need are a belief in bell ringing and drink."
The bell-ringers are looking for new blood. Interested people should contact Mr Champion at the cathedral office.
© 1992 Sydney Morning Herald