St Peter's, Great TothamBell Ringers
Peals & Quarter Peals

5,040 changes and onwards

Peals are the gold standard of change ringing — over five thousand sequences, rung continuously without aids, taking the better part of three hours on these bells. Quarter peals are 1,260 changes. Both have a long history at St Peter's.

Peals

What a peal is

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers details the conditions required for a peal. Peals rung on five, six or seven working bells must consist of at least 5,040 changes; for eight or more working bells a peal must comprise a minimum of 5,000 changes. Each bell must be rung continuously by the same person without a break, and the ringing must be done entirely from memory. Peals may be rung to commemorate special occasions and events.

To date, 138 peals have been rung at St Peter's, Great Totham. The first peal was rung on 26th October 1895 by a band from Coggeshall; on 6th May 1899 the first peal was rung by members of the Great Totham band itself. The most recent peal was rung on 2nd November 2014 by six Essex Association ringers — seven Minor Methods, in remembrance of Able Seaman Charles Henry Ballard, the first Essex ringer to fall on 1st November 1914 while serving on HMS Monmouth. He was a loyal ringer at St Peter's.

The Felstead Database records all peals rung but does not include details of the ringers or the occasion.

Peal Boards

The boards in the ringing chamber

Ten peal boards hang in the ringing chamber at St Peter's, painted by hand and recording specific peals. Click any board below to see it full-size.

Peal board, 26th October 1895
26th October 1895
The first peal at St Peter's
 Peal board, 6th May 1899
6th May 1899
First peal by St Peter's ringers
 Peal board, 3rd February 1901
3rd February 1901
For the death of Queen Victoria
 Peal board, 24th August 1905
24th August 1905
For the conductor's birthday
 Peal board, 31st October 1933
31st October 1933
In memory of Mr A. Brockis
 Peal board, 27th January 1936
27th January 1936
For the death of King George V
 Peal board, 9th February 1952
9th February 1952
For the death of King George VI
 Peal board, 24th January 1990
24th January 1990
Ordination of Rev. Peter William Youle
 Peal board, 4th August 2000
4th August 2000
100th birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
 Peal board, 15th September 2012
15th September 2012
Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II
In a picture frame on the coat hooks

Four peals and a date touch, 1905 – 1912

Recorded on cards rather than peal boards. Of particular note is the peal rung on 16th April 1912 — the first peal of Treble Bob on these bells. 5,040 changes, in 2 hours and 42 minutes.

Read the full details (PDF) →

Quarter Peals

1,260 changes, around forty minutes

A quarter peal at St Peter's typically takes around 40 minutes. They are rung for special occasions, to mark the progress of a ringer, and for enjoyment. The records below cover quarter peals rung at St Peter's since 2013 with at least one Great Totham ringer in the band — together with details of the bells rung for other significant occasions. Each opens as a PDF.