THE Marble Church's historic bells will be impossible not to hear this Saturday when a 'full peal marathon' takes place. 

The last recorded full peal at St Margaret's Church in Bodelwyddan took place in June 1953 on the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

To mark the first time in 70 years, the bells will be ringing in an attempt at a full peal of Bob Triples (5,040 changes).

Organist John Liddon-Few, who is tower captain of the bells, said: "The church at Bodelwyddan was commissioned by Lady Margaret Willoughby de Broke, in memory of her husband. Building work commenced in 1856 and was completed in 1860. The consecration of the church in 1860 was during August of that year. The church tower was originally installed with three bells but 12 years later, five more bells were added, making a total of eight. The bells were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London and underpinned by the tenor bell, weighing nearly three-quarters of a ton. The bells have subsequently been heard ringing clearly over the Vale of Clwyd.

"In this country, the bells you’ll hear being rung are quite often ringing what’s known as a quarter peal and occasionally a full peal. The latter is quite regularly rung in many towers nationwide, usually marking notable occasions or historical milestones. At St Margaret’s the last recorded Full Peal was in June 1953 on the occasion of the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II, therefore, as a commemorative year for the community to celebrate its 70th anniversary, the bells will be ringing to mark this historical landmark in an attempt at a Full Peal of Bob Triples.

"Change ringing is essentially ringing all available bells from 'rounds' (A sequence of the bells starting with smallest and ascending in numerical order to the lowest in tone -12345678) in as many different permutations as desirable until the sequence arrives back at rounds. The rule is that a bell will move not more than one position-place at a time and no sequence order can be repeated.

"For obvious reasons, there has never been a full peal on all eight bells as the maximum number of possible changes is 40,320 changes. Seven bells in peal offer a maximum of 5,040 changes which is achievable in approximately three hours.

"Full peals are recognized as such being over 5,000 changes and are historically rung for various occasions."

John said that historical archives testify that there have only been 10 full peals rung in the history of St Margaret's church, mainly in the 1920’s.

This means that anyone still alive, who rang in the last peal, is now aged well into their 90s.

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John added: "The attempt of quarter and especially full peals requires stamina, concentration and a lot of ringing hours' experience, often with participants travelling great distances to various cathedrals and churches to ring the bells."

The attempt to make history will take place on Saturday, August 26 from 3pm. The church will be open to visitors who can come and listen and enjoy a tea or coffee. There will also be an opportunity to leave a donation. 

Anyone interested in bell ringing and has the desire to learn more, is welcome to join St Margaret’s practice night. 

These take place on Tuesday of every week at 7.30pm. Email marblechurchbells@yahoo.com