A few days after Christmas, on 28th December, comes Holy Innocents` Day which marks the massacre of babies by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus.
In normal times, when church bells can be rung, it is a Stroud Valleys tradition (and in other areas as well) to mark it with Half Muffled ringing. This is achieved by covering the bell clappers with a leather pad on one side so that one hears the full strike followed by the muffled strike. It is quite haunting to listen to - almost like an echo.
The muffles take about half an hour to strap on. Clambering among the bells of All Saints’ Church on a cold winter`s day is something for which you have to steel yourself but the sound of the ringing makes it worthwhile.
It is usual to have half muffled ringing on Remembrance Sunday and at some funerals. It is said that the non-muffled sound is a celebration of a person`s life and the muffled sound mourns their passing.
In Bisley, on the rare occasion we ring on New Year’s Eve to mark the passing of the old year and celebrate the arrival of the new, the muffles will still be in place from Holy Innocents’ Day. In the past, ringers would take the muffles off at midnight and then ring with the full open sound after midnight but Health and Safety Regulations mean that this is now discouraged which is much appreciated by those who would otherwise have to spend more time amongst the bells!
