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Worcester Cathedral’s magnificent bells

Church bells are the biggest and loudest musical instruments. The bells of Worcester Cathedral are considered to be one of the finest rings of bells in the world.

The Cathedral’s tower contains a ring of 12 bells, three semitone bells and a bourdon bell, with a total weight of 16 tonnes. The 15 ringing bells were cast in 1928 by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, from the metal of the previous ring. These were cast in 1869 and the non-swinging bourdon bell was cast in 1868 and was re-tuned in 1928. It is used by the clock to strike the hours.

The ring is the fifth heaviest in the world, The bells are hung in the 1869 wooden frame which housed the previous ring. This sits on top of a wooden structure which directs the forces down onto the supporting corner pillars of the tower. It is referred to locally as the ‘wigwam’.

The semitone bells make it possible to ring combinations of bells in different keys. The haunting sound of the Harmonic Minor Ten is unique to Worcester, and can be heard on Good Friday, Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday and New Year’s Eve.

The bells are rung by the Cathedral’s Guild of Bellringers, a skilled team of practitioners who voluntarily give their service to the Cathedral.