RULES

OF THE

GREAT BIRCHAM SOCIETY OF BELL RINGERS.

1.       That this society shall consist of eight members to be approved by the Minister and Churchwarden, and shall be called the Great Bircham Society of Bell Ringers

2.      That this society shall be governed by a President, Secretary and Steeplemaster, who shall be chosen by the Minister and Churchwarden, and shall conduct all business during the term of office, which shall be one year, the President to act as treasurer.

3.      That no one shall be a member of the society who does not attend some church regularly on Sundays; and that any member found guilty of drunkenness, dishonesty or any other notorious immorality, shall be liable to be dismissed from the society by the Minister and Churchwarden.

4.     That drinking and smoking shall not be allowed in the steeple under any circumstances, and that any member transgressing this rule shall be liable to be dismissed from the society.

5.  That the annual meeting of the society shall be held on the Saturday before Easter Day, for the settlement of the past year’s accounts, the election of officers, and any other business that may arise.

6.    That whenever the President or Secretary receive a special order to have the bells rung, they shall summon the members to be within the church doors by a given time, or they shall be entitled to receive only half pay on that occasion.

7.      That the Steeplemaster shall have entire control over the members whilst in the steeple, and any member refusing to obey when called to order shall be fined one penny, and twopence for the second offence. Any member shall have the power to appeal against his decision at a general meeting of the society, to be called for the consideration of the case, and the decision of such meeting shall be final.

8.      That in the case of illness a member shall be exempt from fines for non-attendance, on giving notice to the above effect. That any member absenting himself for four successive Sundays without reasonable excuse shall be excluded from the society.

9.      That any member swearing, using abusive language, or otherwise misbehaving himself, or causing annoyance to the other members, either in the steeple or at any meeting of the society, shall be fined three-pence for each offence. 

10.   That the regular times for ringing shall be as follows:-

SUNDAYS, before services, the tenor bell to be tolled for ten minutes before time of commencing service.

CHRISTMAS DAY, for an hour before service.

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY, May 24^th.

THE LAST NIGHT OF THE OLD YEAR.

And that the practising evenings shall be Tuesdays and Thursdays, in summer from 8 to 9.15, and in winter from 7 to 8.30 pm.

11.   That the fines for late attendance at the regular ringing time shall be threepence and for absence sixpence.

12.   That each member’s fines shall be deducted from his share of moneys received as ringer, and the amount shall be divided among the members on the day of the annual settlement of accounts.

13.   That the bells shall not be rung by any other society of ringers without the special consent in writing of the Minister and Churchwarden; and that on such occasions either the President, Steeplemaster or Secretary shall always be present and see that no stranger shall interfere with the bells.

14.   That no person who is not a member of this society shall be allowed to go into the ringing-floor without permission, and especially upon Sundays. It is most strictly forbidden that the ringing-floor shall be made a place of resort for idle persons, who neither come to ring or chime or to learn ringing.

15.   That any disagreement about any matter in these rules, or any other point not mentioned in the rules shall be referred to the Minister and Churchwarden, whose decision shall be final.

By order of

THE MINISTER AND CHURCHWARDEN OF GREAT BIRCHAM.

We resolve to be a respectable body of men as well as good ringers, and to give no occasion by our conduct to any person to speak against us, nor to bring a disgrace on the church in which we are connected officials, for we acknowledge that the belfry is part of the church, and that the ringers, being officers of the church, should bear a good character, and this we will endeavour to promote.

(This was followed by the ringers’ signatures)