Margaret Mahoney has been ringing the St Barnabas bells for more than 30 years. She recently retired from the role and shares her story.

We moved to Fendalton, to a brand new home in 1965. We were very lucky to win the right to buy our section, which we balloted for three years earlier. Out of four others, we were the lucky ones. It was a single section in the cul-de-sac, just waiting for us. My architect husband Maurice designed the house, which we moved into and then became part of the St Barnabas Parish.

I joined the bell ringing team in the 1970’s. We were rostered to ring on Sundays and also for weddings, when we became more confident. At that time St Barnabas regularly hosted Japanese weddings on week days. This became popular and there was plenty for the vicar, verger, organist and bell ringer to do. We had a good team.

Being a musician I loved being able to play the bells regularly. I used the traditional Stedman’s principle peal. The eight bells are individually wired from a wooden frame, forming a carillon, to the bells higher up in the tower. They form the scale of C major. Each wire is connected to a thick wooden peg which is pushed down in order to sound the bell. Ringers sit on a stool in front of the wooden frame and read a manuscript sheet of “changes”. These are the different combinations of the eight notes. The wooden pegs are pushed with alternate hands. In the bell tower there is also a handcrafted wooden framed set of eight small practice bells. This is used when a bell ringer is learning to play.

The sets of eight are rung and repeated for about 5-7 minutes before the service. The bells are rung on Sunday mornings and also for weddings when the bride arrives at the church door, and when the happy couple walk out to the door after the ceremony.

One memorable time for me was when the organist failed to arrive for a Japanese wedding. A plan was quickly put into action. I ran to the organ, opened it and picked up the only piece of music I could find which happened to be a hymn book. On the spur of the moment I played “Onward Christian Soldiers’ as the bride and groom were walking up the aisle. The poor verger, Roz Cameron who had never played the bells before, had to quickly climb the stairway to the bell tower and play some sort of bell peal. I told her to count to eight, then start again. Luckily I don’t think anyone noticed our problem!

I loved being a bell ringer. It was a very special and important part of my parish life and I miss it very much. There are now three ringers who share the privilege of ringing. Unfortunately I have recently had knee surgery and am unable to climb the steep stairway. I have decided it is time to retire and leave it to the others. After my long association with the bells, I am sad about this decision. They have been a big part of my St Barnabas church life.

If you are interested in joining the bell ringing team, contact the church office.