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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I think there are two possible explanations: it would actually be a mark of a degree of literacy if one knew ones alphabet and could recognise the letters. Secondly, and perhaps more powerful, the alphabet was seen as encompassing all things (A to Z, alpha to omega) and anciently the bishop (when consecrating a new church) would mark out the Greek alphabet on one diagonal and the Latin alphabet on the other with his crozier. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Andrew</div><div><br></div>
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On Thursday, 10 August 2023 at 08:24:22 BST, Ronald East via Bell-historians <bell-historians@lists.ringingworld.co.uk> wrote:
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<div><div id="ydpaf24387eyiv9115879096"> <div><div style="unicode-bidi:embed;" class="ydpaf24387eyiv9115879096auto-created-dir-div"><p>Could anyone please explain why alphabet bells were cast? We have a fine example on display at Carlisle Cathedral cast in c1380 by John de Kirkham. It is only missing the letters U, W and X.</p></div></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>Bell-historians mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Bell-historians@lists.ringingworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bell-historians@lists.ringingworld.co.uk</a><br><a href="https://lists.ringingworld.co.uk/listinfo/bell-historians" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.ringingworld.co.uk/listinfo/bell-historians</a><br></div>
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