To: Branch chairs, ringing masters, secretaries & treasurers.

Please circulate to towers.

 

I appreciate that this is now confusing to know when to ring open for the proclamation of the King. This is the latest information I’ve been able to gather.

 

As far as I understand it, the Proclamation of the new monarch is being made in London today (Saturday 10^th September) at 10 am.

Bearing in mind that the outline of this protocol was generally developed when news travelled at the speed of a man on a fast horse, not the speed of light, the Proclamation in the parishes will usually be tomorrow (Sunday 11^th September). Local arrangements will vary.

 

If your church/town village is proclaiming the news it would be appropriate to ring open on that day. Otherwise, ringing open on Saturday morning through to 1pm on Sunday is appropriate. This matches the guidance on when flags should be at full mast.

We return to muffled ringing until the Funeral, which is looking like Monday 19^th September.

 

Whatever you do, discuss with your incumbent and take into account the local arrangements. It is not necessary to cancel ringing that was already planned unless the church requests that you do so.

 

I fully appreciate that putting muffles on, taking them off and putting them on again is not the work of a moment. It’s not as simple as running a flag from half to full mast. If your muffles are in place, ringing muffled through until after the funeral would be perfectly acceptable.

 

I will follow up with funeral details later.

 

Thanks

Helen