VIDEO: St Mary's Church in Chard sounds bells for the Olympics (From This is The West Country)
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VIDEO: St Mary's Church in Chard sounds bells for the Olympics
10:39am Friday 27th July 2012 in Somerset
JOHN Davis, tower captain Chris Cox, Bill Case, Tricia Cox, Hilary Taylor and Geoff Dean at St Mary’s Church Tower at 8am on Friday morning preparing to sound the bells for the Olympic Games. PHOTO: Jamie Brooks.
THE sound of St Mary’s Church bells were heard loud and clear in Chard this morning in celebration at the start of the Olympic Games.
The bell-ringers were taking part in a national event with thousands of bells across the country ringing for three minutes between 8.12am and 8.15am, 12 hours before the official opening of the Games. The time was chosen because it is exactly 12 hours before the 24-hour clock reaches 20:12.
St Mary’s Church was in good company as the Hour Bell of Big Ben was also one of those ringing out. Tower captain Chris Cox registered the group’s contribution on the official Cultural Olympiad website co-ordinating all events around the country.
After taking part, Chris, together with Geoff Dean, scaled the church tower to hoist the Union Flag over the church. The flag will be flown for the duration of the Games.
St Mary’s Church is inviting members of the public to attend Tower Tours on Saturday, August 4, from 10am to 12noon. Visitors can see the ringing and bell chambers as well as the clock workings on route to the top – and are encouraged to bring a camera to take pictures of the view over Chard.
TO see a video of St Mary’s Church bell ringers taking part in the celebration click the video player below.
