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8 January 2009
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You are in: Liverpool > Faith > Features > Cathedral's record attempt

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

Cathedral's record attempt

A full peal of bells will be rung at Liverpool Cathedral in a bid to take a bell ringing world record.

Liverpool Cathedral is aiming to take a world record on Saturday, 15 November, by ringing a full peal of the world’s heaviest bells.

The full peal will be rung on the back eight bells of the cathedral, nine ringers will take part in the peal which will be rung from 10am to around 3pm.

The cathedral is hoping to take the record from Exeter Cathedral, which has held it for over 50 years.

A full peal includes 5000 changes and the bell ringers will not be allowed to stop or repeat a previous change.

Liverpool Cathedral has the world’s highest and heaviest bells in the world hung for the traditional English style.

“We have a specially composed composition for the occasion,” said Len Mitchell, the Ringing Master of Liverpool Cathedral.

“The skill is in getting the bell to the balance point each time so that you minimise the amount of effort you need to put in.”

“Because of the weight of the bells we do have a provision for two people to ring the Tenor bell, the biggest bell.”

For the record attempt the bells will be rung using the Cambridge Surprise Major method.

If the cathedral is successful the record is likely to remain with Liverpool for a long time as the cost of casting and installing a heavier peal elsewhere is prohibitive.

Liverpool’s bells were installed in 1951, the cathedral's Tenor bell weighs just over four tons, while the next heaviest Tenor at Exeter is half a ton lighter.

In 2007, to celebrate Liverpool’s 800th birthday, the cathedral rang the world’s heaviest ten bell peal.

last updated: 13/11/2008 at 14:30
created: 13/11/2008

You are in: Liverpool > Faith > Features > Cathedral's record attempt



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