Bell-ringing
On Tuesday 2nd March, the 3rd Caterham (St. John’s) Scout Troop went down to St. John the Evangelist Church, Caterham Valley.
We split the troop in half, one half went with Noel Gibbin (the Tower Captain), where he demonstrated how the bells worked, then showed us the bells at the top of the tower. When we came down we all pulled a bell. The two halves swapped over and Father Jerry gave a very good talk about the various different things in the church. The font is very ancient and comes from St. Lawrence’s Church, Caterham on the Hill. It was presented by the Rector, the Reverend Jarvis Kenrick, in 1871. It was restored in his memory in 1881. The altar has a piece of bone from St. Victorinus hidden inside. We went into the vestry where the parish records are kept and we were able to find some of the Scouts in the books where their christening is recorded.
Stephen Charrington used to pull the bells as a Scout and gained his campanologist badge, so Noel let him pull the bells by himself.
Our thanks go to Father Gerry and Noel Gibbin for a very different and enjoyable meeting.
John S, Scout Leader