Bells will ring on St George's Day
Bells will ring out on St George's Day from Gloucester Cathedral – though not at noon.
County patriots say their plans for an evening peal on April 23, to mark the saint's day, are still on course.
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Gloucester Cathedral
The Gloucestershire branch of Royal Society of St George has arranged for the bells to be rung every year for the past 30 and this year will be no different, said society founder and vice-chairman, Mike Smith.
"For the past 30 years or so, the Royal Society of St George has paid for the Cathedral bells to ring out over the city in celebration of St George's Day," he said.
"We have again booked the splendid ringers for this year's Cathedral Service at 7.30pm.
"It is good to see the rest of the country is following Gloucestershire's lead and that celebrating our national day is at last becoming fashionable."
As The Citizen reported on Tuesday (inset), the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Rev Michael Perham had said bell ringing might not feature on April 23.
"I would find it difficult to make April 23 the principal day of the year in which church bells should ring out peals of joy," he said.
"Getting together teams of ringers at midday would be challenging."
Others suggested the tradition needs to be marked as a sign of patriotism.
"The Cathedral will again be full and we will be offering red roses in return for a donation to charity across the county," said Mr Smith. Morris dancers will also be in attendance.
10 Comments
by geoffrey stickland, Quedgeley
Friday, April 03 2009, 9:59AM
“reports of this business are distorted; no Bishop said bells should NOT ring only that they wouldn't issue an edict which said they MUST be rung. A snesationalist storm in a tea-cup”
by M Anderson, Essex England
Friday, April 03 2009, 5:25AM
“why should the bells sound on geogre`s day did not hear them ring on david`s day
Well that's because St George's day isn't on st David's day you silly! Anyway, this is England isn't it?”
by Wanda, Stroud
Thursday, April 02 2009, 11:32PM
“mabybliw: I expect bells were rung in Wales for St David's day; why should they have been rung here?
Anyway, it¿s about time we celebrated our own day here in England; the Welsh, Irish and Scots have been doing so for years. 23rd April is also Shakespeare¿s birthday (and the day he died too), so quite appropriate (and the weather is usually better by then too)! We should all get a day¿s holiday.
According to Wikipedia, St George was born in Palestine and his parents were Christians; his mother was a Palestinian and father from what is now Turkey. He is also the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia, as well as a number of cities. So, he's also multicultural, which is politically correct nowadays!”
by Kat, gloucester
Thursday, April 02 2009, 11:17PM
“Well Mabybliw, you wouldn't from Chelt! I take it you're from Wales btw?”
by mabybliw, cheltenham
Thursday, April 02 2009, 9:55PM
“why should the bells sound on geogre`s day did not hear them ring on david`s day”
by Digger, Gloucester
Thursday, April 02 2009, 7:39PM
“Well done Gloucester Cathedral! An excellent decision and one which will be appreciated by so many of us Glossies!”
by Philip Amphlett, Abbeydale
Thursday, April 02 2009, 7:10PM
“I agree with Lesley Selway, why not celebrate our own saints day, I'm a good "Old Gloucester Boy" and be proud to do so.”
by John, Glos
Thursday, April 02 2009, 4:56PM
“I am so happy the people of Gloucester will hear the peal of bells ring out from the Cathedral. As I commented earlier, Nothing is impossible for God. Hallelujah and may his holy name be praised all over this pleasant land”
by lesley selway, Longlevens ,Gloucester
Thursday, April 02 2009, 3:16PM
“Iam pleased to read that the cathederal bells will ring out on ST.GEORGES DAY,COME ON PEOPLE OF THIS GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND ,BE PATRIOTIC AND LETS ALL CELEBRATE OUR SAINTS DAY!!”
by Steve, Cheltenham
Thursday, April 02 2009, 2:56PM
“Why red noses?”