 |
Ringing at Leeds Parish Church is synonymous with the name R. H. Dove, the author of A Bellringer's Guide to the Church Bells of Britain, a synopsis of all the peals of bells within the British Isles and, indeed, the world. The history of ringing at the Parish Church goes back to the period when the present art was being developed. The 'first Peal ever rung in Leeds' (as recorded on a peal board in the tower) - and no doubt one of the earliest peals in Yorkshire - was rung on the newly-augmented eight on the 30th June 1742. It consisted of 5,040 changes of Grandsire Triples and took 3 hours 8 minutes. |
In 1842, on completion of the present building, its tower contained the world's first ring of thirteen, cast by Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel, London. This was a true ring of twelve bells with an additional bell to allow a change of key to a musically true lighter ring of eight. This practice is now adopted in most twelve-bell towers. The Parish Church bells were also reputed to be the first ever bells to travel by rail. |
 |
 |
The present ring of thirteen was cast by John Taylor of Loughborough in 1932. It remains, as before, a true ring of twelve in the key of C major, with an additional bell allowing a lighter eight to be rung in the key of F major. The heaviest bell in the tower is just over two tons, making the ring of twelve the second heaviest in Yorkshire. The Leeds bells have a particularly fine tone, having been cast at a time when great advances in bell tuning had been made by the bell-founder, John Taylor. |
 |
| The St Peter's Society of Change Ringers was re-founded in July 1998. The present company of ringers undertakes a busy schedule. This includes the two principal Sunday Services, services on mid-week festivals and Holy Days, and the Thursday practice night, which can involve almost thirty people week by week. The current band were ranked 4th in the National 12 bell Striking Competition in 2008. |