Home / Arts and Entertainment / Alderney's St Anne's Church Adds 13th Bell for Richer Sound
Alderney's St Anne's Church Adds 13th Bell for Richer Sound
26 Jan
Summary
- A 13th bell has been added to St Anne's Church, enhancing its historic chime.
- The new bell provides musical versatility, allowing for performances in different keys.
- The bells hold immense historical significance, notably signaling a past evacuation.
St Anne's Church in Alderney has expanded its renowned bell collection with the addition of a 13th bell. This significant enhancement is poised to enrich the auditory experience of the island, offering greater musical versatility. The new bell is described as adding the equivalent of black notes to a keyboard of white notes, thus enabling performances in a wider range of musical keys.
The bells of St Anne's hold profound historical weight for Alderney. They are particularly remembered for their somber toll on June 23, 1940, a signal marking the evacuation of the island just prior to its occupation by German forces during World War II. This historical connection imbues the bells with poignant and specific importance for the local community.
Reverend Samantha Martell highlighted the bells' significance not only from a historical but also a community perspective, noting their role in Sunday services, weddings, and funerals. The bell-ringing team leader, Helen McGregor, expressed enthusiasm for how the new bell broadens their repertoire. Matthew Higby, head of the installation team, detailed the precise engineering involved in tuning the bell off-site to ensure harmony with its existing companions in the tower.
