‘RING’ AND ‘SING’
What an extraordinary and wonderful year this has been! With the slogans ‘Ring for the King’ and ‘Sing for the King’, people were inspired into action, playing a part as King Charles III takes up his duties around our nation. We must hope that those who took hold of a rope for the Coronation will long carry on such activity, advancing far into the intricacies of change-ringing, and well into the detail of Sunday service arrangements. ‘Ring’ and ‘Sing’ go well together, and in many instances around the nation will help ensure the local church does not creep towards the awfulness of having to close its doors permanently.
I heard that, in recent years, nearly 400 churches have been forced to say ‘That is all … Go next time … to another church for congregational worship’, and all that follows as an expression of religious belief – a community to belong to, a social life, and input to local activities.
Doubtless, no reader of this weekly magazine would wish this upon ourselves. So when we let go of our tail ends on Sunday, we need to pick up a hymn book as the choir and clergy process into the main body of the church – or look at the screen as the worship band strike up. In either style of church, with a rhythm to mirror what we in the ringing chamber have tried our best to do, inviting the world around us to come, and sing, and listen.
Michael Stephens