The use of religious bells as symbolism and ritual is prevalent in many faiths worldwide. However, the sound of bells emanating from churches is by nature not exclusive to the church, as these sounds can effectively become part of the “public domain.” The value of church bell ringing can therefore be attributed to the church community and clergy as well as the wider community. Cessation of these sounds affects not only the soundscape of the area, but the people who place value on these sounds or soundscapes. Data are presented from a previous survey from 2018 investigating church bell practices in New South Wales (Australia) and compared to the current practice of bell ringing, which has been heavily influenced by regulations introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
1.
Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers
(2020
). “COVID-19—Ringing Still Suspended at 36 Towers
.”2.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
(2017
). “2016 Census data reveals ‘no religion’ is rising fast
,” edited by A. B. o. Statistics (Canberra).3.
4.
Bovis
, J.
(2020
). “Did you still ring your church bells in the time of the COVID19 lockdown?
,” e-mail of Parish Priest St John's (Tamworth) to Murray Parker (St John The Evangelist Anglican Church, Tamworth).5.
6.
7.
Eggington
, T.
(2020
). “Nation's bells fall silent for the first time since WWII
,” in East Midlands Business Link.8.
Fisher
, A.
(2020a
). “Directions for the Archdiocese of Sydney from 18 March 2020 until further notice
,” in Sydney (Archdiocese of Sydney).9.
Fisher
, A.
(2020b
). “Fifth Pastoral Letter to the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Sydney with Special Directives for Churches and Liturgies under Step One of the relaxation of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 13 May 2020
,” in Sydney (Archdiocese of Sydney).10.
Fisher
, A.
(2020c
). “Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and Faithful of the Archdiocese of Sydney regarding the latest restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic 23 March 2020
,” in Sydney (Archdiocese of Sydney).11.
Fisher
, A.
(2020d
). “Seventh Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and Faithful of the Archdiocese of Sydney with Special Directives for Churches and Liturgies following the further relaxation of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2 July 2020
,” in Sydney (Archdiocese of Sydney).12.
Fisher
, A.
(2020e
). “Sixth Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and Faithful of the Archdiocese of Sydney with Special Directives for Churches and Liturgies following the further relaxation of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 29 May 2020 in the Light of Pentecost
,” in Sydney (Archdiocese of Sydney).13.
Fisher
, A.
(2020f
). “Third Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and Faithful of the Archdiocese of Sydney regarding the latest restrictions in response to the COVID19 pandemic 30 March 2020
,” in Sydney (Archdiocese of Sydney).14.
Harris
, S.
(2020
). “All Saints Anglican Church Moree to ring church bells for daily prayer time during coronavirus crisis
,” in Moree Champion.15.
Hastreiter
, M. T.
(2020
). “Yearning for the sounds of sports, church bells and school buses
,” in Buffalo News.16.
17.
Jefferies
, J.
(2020a
). “Do you still ring your church bells in the time of COVID19
?,” e-mail of bell master St. Matthew's (Albury) to Dirk H. R. Spennemann (St. Matthew's Parish, Albury).18.
Jefferies
, J.
(2020b
). “Do you still ring your church bells in the time of COVID19? [follow up]
,” e-mail of bell master St. Matthew's (Albury) to Dirk H. R. Spennemann (St. Matthew's Parish, Albury).19.
Jones
, R.
(2020
). “Do you still ring your church bells in the time of COVID19
?,” e-mail of church co-ordinator St. David's Uniting Church (Albury) to Dirk H. R. Spennemann (St. Patrick's Parish, Albury).20.
Lithgow Bellringers
(2020
). “Recommencing Bellringing for Church services at Hoskins Uniting Church, Lithgow
.”21.
MacLeod-Miller
, P.
(2020
). “Question for Fr Peter or the Verger
,” e-mail of rector of St. Matthew's (Albury) to Dirk H. R. Spennemann (St. Matthew's Parish, Albury).22.
Messenger
, A.
(2020
). “Glen Innes church bells a comfort for people stuck in quarantine
,” in Glen Innes Examiner.23.
MHMR
(2020
). “Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement)
Order (No. 4) 2020 (30 June 2020)
,” New South Wales Government Gazette, 3265-3280.24.
Murphy
, R.
(2020
). “The use of recorded bells during COVID-19
,” e-mail of Rector St. Peter's (Leeton) to Murray Parker (St. Peter's Anglican Church, Leeton).25.
26.
NSW Health
(2020
). “COVID-19 Safety Plan effective 24 July 2020. Places of worship
,” (NSW Health, Sydney).27.
Palmer
, B.
(2020
). “Churches ring bells in support of frontline COVID workers and the community
,” in Mudgee Guardian.28.
Parker
, M.
(2018
). “The heritage of sound in the built environment: An exploration,” Bachelor of Science (Honours)
thesis, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University
, Albury
.29.
Parker
, M.
, and Spennemann
, D. H. R.
(2020
). “For whom the bell tolls: Practitioner's views on bell ringing practice in contemporary society in New South Wales (Australia)
,” Religions
11
, 425
.30.
Patty
, A.
(2020
). “Bishops lead prayers on church steps as visitors keep social distance
,” in Sydney Morning Herald.31.
Perrins
, T.
(2020
). “Church bell ringing during COVID-19
,” e-mail of bell master St. Andrew's (Sydney) to Murray Parker (St. Andrew's Parish, Sydney).32.
Robinson
, D.
(2020
). “Did you still ring your church bells in the time of the COVID19 lockdown
?,” edited by email of Vicar Glen Innes Anglican Church to Dirk Spennemann (Glenn Innes Anglican Church, Glen Innes).33.
Staff Writer
(2020
). “Church bells to ring, uniting prayers
,” in Catholic Weekly.34.
Wallace
, J.
(2020
). “Do you still ring your church bells in the time of COVID19
?,” e-mail of Parish Priest St. Patrick's (Albury) to Dirk H. R. Spennemann (St. Patrick's Parish, Albury).35.
WHO
(2020
). “Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it
,” (World Health Organisation
, Geneva
).© 2020 Acoustical Society of America.
2020
Acoustical Society of America
You do not currently have access to this content.
