Society of Cambridge Youths
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The Society of Cambridge Youths is a Bellringing society founded and based in Cambridge. It is dedicated to ringing the bells of the University Church of Great St Mary's Cambridge for religious services at the church and also civil and university events.
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[edit] History of the Society
The Society was founded in 1724 to ring the bells at Great St Mary's although there were ringers active in the church since the 17th century, possibly earlier. It has a continuous history of ringing since that date making it oldest ringing society second only to the Company of Ringers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln who ring at Lincoln Cathedral Guild and were believed to have been formed in 1612.
The Society rings the bells for not only the regular church services but also the University Sermons which take place twice each University term.
[edit] History of the bells it rings
Great Four bells and a sanctus are mentioned in 1516 and it is believed they were at one time hung in a belfry in the churchyard (1594) until the new church tower was not completed until 1608. In 1611 the four bells were recast into a ring of five and augmented to six probably in 1621-2. Two more bells were added to make a ring of eight in 1667/8 and the lightest two of the old six recast. In 1722/3 Richard Phelps recast these bells and added as much metal again to increase the ring to a heavier ring of ten. The tenor was damaged and required recasting by Pack & Chapman in 1770 and the opportunity was taken to increase the ring to twelve. The new front bells were poor examples especially the treble which was shortly recast in 1773. The eleventh was recast in 1825, the tower restored in 1892, the two trebles recast in 1911 and the seventh recast in 1923 due to damage incurred when celebrating the Armistice in 1918. The final major work involved recasting the trebles yet again and rehanging the bells in a new metal frame. For the first time they were also hung to be rung clockwise. In 1992 the 9th cracked during practice ringing and this was repaired (welded) by Soundweld of Lode.
[edit] Membership
A ringer is usually only admitted to membership of the society upon showing regular commitment to the ringing at Great St Mary's. Membership is for life and the network of former resident members of the Youths stretches across the globe.
