The Woolhope Bell Ringers successfully completed a quarter peal on the second anniversary of the accession of King Charles III. This took place at St George’s Church on Sunday 8th September 2024, prior to choral evensong, where we were joined by John Eden and the Hereford Church Singers.
Congratulations to the band for ringing ‘1260 Doubles’ in 44 minutes.
What is 1260 Doubles?
Two methods were rung during the quarter peal: Grandsire Doubles (660 changes), and Plain Bob Doubles (600 changes). A doubles method involves bells 1 through 5 changing places with one another in a predefined ringing sequence. Often, the tenor – the largest and lowest-pitched bell – covers, meaning it rings continuously in 6th place. A change is counted each time the bells sound in a different order, for example: 123456, 213546, 231456, 324156, 342516, etc.
Below is a recording of Grandsire Doubles, made in 2001 by the ringers of St John the Baptist, Suckley, in Worcestershire.
What is a quarter peal?
A quarter peal is a notable performance of continuous ringing, typically 1260 changes, taking around 45 minutes to complete. They are rung for various reasons, including special church services, weddings, birthdays, or in remembrance of someone.
St George's Church, Woolhope 
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