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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I, for one, support David's analysis on this.
Nearly all the evidence I've seen points to ringing being a community activity
first, and church-related second from the Reformation until the Victorian
reformers came along.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Most of us have grown up, however, endoctrinated
with the view cultivated by the reformers that bells were primarily for the use
of the church and that ringing for services is our main function. The
Victorian "spin" on this was very well described in a recent RW article by
Bobbie May - well written, but not the version of history that I can
share</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The example John cites - I'd be interested to know
the exact source (is it a diary or newspaper extract?) - looks to me more like
the bells being rung for pleasure immediately after service / prayers (i.e. as
soon as the church was clear). Quite a lot of pleasure ringing - peals,
for instance - took place on Sundays between services in the C18th and early
C19th</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>CP</FONT></DIV>
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