St Michael’s Church to host regional bellringing competition the George W Pipe Trophy

The picturesque heart of Bishop’s Stortford will resound with church bells on Saturday (Feb 15) as the town hosts a regional competition for campanologists.

St Michael’s Bellringers will host the George W Pipe Trophy, an annual 12-bell striking contest held in honour of an eminent East Anglian bellringer.

Anne Brolly, from St Michael’s, said: “We’ll be welcoming competing bands from Norwich, Ipswich, Bury St Edmund’s, Saffron Walden, Chelmsford and Waltham Abbey.

“St Michael’s ringers are very pleased to be able to also take part now that our bells have been augmented to a ring of 12.

“The ringing will take place from 10.30am to 2.30pm and will be streamed via cameras to the church, so please come along and have a listen.

“Members of St Michael’s ringers will be there to explain more about the event.”

The bells at St Michael’s in Windhill were restored in 2022 after a £300,000 appeal.

There have been bells in the tower since the early 1400s – records show there were five until a sixth was added in 1671.

The former ring of 10 bells was installed in 1820 in the existing 1713 wooden frame after the tower and spire were rebuilt in 1819.