The Ermington Ringers

The village of Ermington recruits a new team for its refurbished bells. From farmer to printworker, labourer to miller, they gather on a Sunday to ring the bells to the faithful and flocks of all kinds. The village can trace its origins to Saxon times and the church dates to the 14th century. The church’s crooked spire is a famous feature and inspires the pub of the same name and with the First and Last pub, provides sustenance to thirsty bellringers.

According to the church records, the bells were cast by different bell foundries. Penningtons of Stoke Climsland won the original commission casting the 3rd, 5th and 6th bells which carry the date 1748, Bilbie of Cullompton cast the 4th before the decline of the company and in 1889 the treble bell was made by Llewellyn and James of Bristol with the 2nd bell being cast by the Whitechapel Foundry in London in 1904. The refurbishment and rehanging in 1963 was carried out by John Taylor of Loughborough after local fundraising. Below the bells is a turret clock built by John Smith of Derby. Together with the chimes, it was presented to the church in 1921 by Captain Gransmore in memory of his son who died in the Great War.