Over the coming weeks we will be bringing you further details of our exciting plans for the Ringing World’s Centenary Celebrations, which centre around a special service of Evensong at 3pm in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, 26th March 2011. This week we are able to say a little more about the Grand Ringers’ Tea and Gathering in Methodist Central Hall that will be held between 4pm and 6pm immediately after the Abbey service.

Central Hall, Westminster is located in Storey’s Gate just across the road – quite literally – from the main entrance to the Abbey. The Centenary Reception is going to be held in the Library and Lecture Hall – two large and imposing rooms (with lift access for the disabled) off the the grand entrance foyer on the first floor. The giant shutters dividing these rooms will be opened, giving us a single space of 623 square metres – able to accommodate up to 1,000 people for tea.

As well as a cup of tea with cake (included in the ticket price) and the opportunity to mingle and chat with ringing friends from all over the country, at 5pm there will be a welcome from the Ringing World Chairman and we will be treated to a specially composed touch on 24 handbells by an expert band led by Philip Earis of Cambridge. We hope to have a separate article about this spectacular piece of ringing shortly.

During the reception prizes will also be presented to the winners of the Ringing World National Youth Contest, a young persons’ striking contest that will take place from 10am on the light ring of eight down the road at St Saviour’s Church, Pimlico, SW1. You will be able to read all about the contest and how to enter it in a feature article next week.

R.A.L.

British Rail:
The Abbey and Central Hall, Westminster are within walking distance of Victoria, Charing Cross and Waterloo mainline stations.

Nearest Underground stations:
Westminster on the Jubilee, Circle and District lines.
St James’s Park on the Circle and District lines.
Victoria on the Victoria, Circle and District lines.

Buses:
Buses 11, 24, 148 and 211 pass the door
Buses 3, 12, 53, 53X, 87, 88, 109, 159 and 453 stop nearby.

BB BellBoard
CC
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers