St John’s bells ring out to mark the centenary

The bells of Perth will ring out to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War this weekend.

The carillon at St John’s Kirk has undergone an overhaul to make sure it is in top condition for the event.

The people of Perth chose to endow a carillon – a set of bells which can be used to play tunes – as part of St John’s Kirk becoming the war memorial for the region.

A range of new tunes are now being played at 11.01am, 1.01pm and 3.01pm daily.

Bells will ring out across the country at 12.30pm on Sunday, as they would have done 100 years ago, and Ian Cassells, the Perth city carilloneur, will play a programme of music with strong wartime associations.

Music including ‘Nimrod’, ‘MacCrimmon’s Lament’and‘Abide with Me’will be followed by wartime favourites and the recital will end by the full circle ringing of the only St John’s bell that can be swung. Called John-the-Baptist, it was forged in 1506 and would have sounded out to proclaim the Armistice in 1918.

St John’s Kirk will welcome representatives of groups and organisations from across the community at 10.30am, led by the Lord Lieutenant Brigadier Mel Jamieson and Provost Dennis Mellor, for the principal Perthshire Remembrance service.

Afterwards the kirk will remain open for visitors who want to watch and listen to the carillon being played on the big screens.

The recital, which starts at 12.30am, will last 45 minutes and will be informal.

For more information contact Bill Wilson on 01738 637743 or email clerk. stjohns@gmail.com.