A sesquicentenary history of the Guild of Devonshire Ringers
By John G.M. Scott and Lester Yeo
Published in 2024 by the Guild of Devonshire Ringers in association with The Ringing World
ISBN: 978-1-7395991-7-1
In March 1874 a group of clergy and professional men met in Exeter to form a body to organise bell ringers in Devon and to promote "scientific" change ringing as a way of combatting the unruly behaviour of some ringers who were more interested in ringing in competitions for prizes rather than ringing for church services. The group decided to call the new body "The Guild of Devonshire Ringers".
So it was that in 2024 the Guild celebratied its 150th anniversary. A special anniversary dinner was held in March, a special church service in June, and many ringing performances marking the anniversary occurred across the county throughout the year. Additionally, one lasting legacy of the sesquicentenary year was the publication of a revised and updated history of the Guild.
In 1975 Prebendary John Scott, the Guild’s Librarian, published a 30-page booklet on the history of the Guild to mark its centenary. It is a very readable account of the formation of the Guild, its early struggles to survive and thrive, and its revival after the Second World War. The booklet has long been out of print. To mark the 150th anniversary, John Scott’s history has been reprinted and the story of the Guild brought up to date by Lester Yeo.
Devon Bellringing 1874 – 2023: A Sesquicentenary History of the Guild of Devonshire Ringers, is a hardcover book of 160 pages plus illustrations and follows much new research by the author. In addition to continuing the narrative to 2023, Lester Yeo has added helpful footnotes to John Scott's original text and included a series of brief biographies of the leading personalities from the earlier years of the Guild. The inclusion of a comprehensive bibliography and an index make this a valuable work of scholarship and a piece of remarkable Devonian social history.
Lester is a past officer and past President of the Guild who has been a member since the centenary in 1974.
The book was published on 15th March 2024 and can be ordered using an online order form. It costs £15 (plus £4 p&p). Copies are also on sale at Exeter Cathedral Shop, Heartland Old Books (12-14 Newport Street, Tiverton EX16 6NL) or from the Guild Library at St Petrock's Exeter at the dates and times shown in the Guild events calendar.
Read some extracts from the Guild History here
The slides used by Lester in his presentation are available for those wishing to view them.
