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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Can't disagree with John's main assertion here, as
"looking at the past through the eyes of the present" is a pet hate of mine too
(as is revisionism for the sake of it). But I still think that ringing drifted
significantly from its association with the church and became a predominantly
secular and community art in the C18th - hence the creation of town ringing
societies, the whole competitive thing and a pride in the village bells that
went beyond immediate religious allegiances. Of course, our general view of
church life in the C18th is hugely coloured by Victorian "spin" too - and the
established church was much more active and involved in the community than has
been often claimed. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John suggests "<FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>imagine that an 18th Century ringer would have looked at you strangely if
you suggested that what he did had nothing to do with the church." An
interesting way of putting it. Turn it round, as think about how the clergy
viewed ringers - Skinner's diary, for instance - and there's pretty clear
evidence that ringing was regarded as somehow on the very edge of church
activities. There are also a few letters from ringers - and the many press
reports collected by Cyril Wratten - that display a wholly independent flavour,
barely touching on any link with the religious activities of the church.
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>All food for
thought</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>CP</DIV></FONT><!--End group email --></BODY></HTML>