York Minster Falls Silent As All 30 Bell Ringers Sacked

By Becky Johnson
Sky News
October 17, 2016

http://news.sky.com/story/public-clamour-after-bell-ringers-given-heave-ho-10619643

More than 11,000 people have signed a petition calling for the bell ringers at York Minster to be reinstated after they were sacked and ringing suspended until a new team is appointed next year.

The group of 30 volunteers say they were stunned when they were told their services were no longer required and asked to hand in the key fobs that gave them access to the bell tower.

Alice Etherington, the bell ringer who started the petition, told Sky News: "It's not the way to go about changing things and getting people loyal and dedicated to you when you already have people loyal and dedicated to you and the services.

"We adore the Minster, we adore our community life there and we're part of it and we feel shunned."

The bells have been silent since the announcement at a meeting on Tuesday. As new bell ringers will not be appointed until next year it will mean no festive bells this Christmas and New Year - a break in a tradition that dates back to the 14th Century.

The decision to sack the bell ringers has brought an abrupt end to 30 years of bell ringing at the Minster for former ringing master Peter Sanderson.

The decision means there will be no festive at Christmas and New Year

"There's a mixture of emotions" he says. "Obviously very upset, upset for the rest of the team as much as anything else and obviously there were feelings of anger and frustration as well because we don't understand why they've taken this action."

The Minster plans to appoint a new, paid Head of Bell Tower who will then recruit new volunteers.

In a statement it said: "The Chapter of York is committed to having a fully trained, motivated and engaged body of staff and volunteers by 2020. Since 2014 we've been working with our groups of volunteers to introduce a consistent standard of recruitment, induction, training and development.

"It is also critically important to ensure that there is a consistent approach to health and safety, governance and risk management across all of our volunteer teams.

"In order to make these changes we sometimes need to close existing volunteering roles so that we can move forward with the new processes. This is what has happened with our bell ringers.

"It does mean that they will no longer have access to the bell tower: that is non-negotiable as Chapter is responsible for the safety and security of all of the Minster's spaces."

The bell ringers have been told they will be free to apply for the new volunteer roles as and when they become available.