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The Bells

Episode 11 of 30

David Hendy visits one of the oldest church bells in the UK, and explores how the sound of the bell carries religion out into the world.

The peal of the church bell was one of the most dominant features in the medieval soundscape. Every time it rang out, religion's hold over the secular world was signalled loud and clear.

Professor David Hendy of the University of Sussex visits one of the oldest church bells in the UK and argues the sound's power lay in ancient, pagan associations.

30-part series made in collaboration with the British Library Sound Archive.

Producer: Matt Thompson.
A Rockethouse production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2013.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 4 Jun 201902:15
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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The Ecstatic Underground

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Tuning the Body

See all episodes from Noise: A Human History

Broadcasts

  • Mon 1 Apr 201313:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Mon 2 Nov 201514:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 3 Nov 201502:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 3 Jun 201914:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 4 Jun 201902:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

Noise retold by Matthew Herbert

Noise retold by Matthew Herbert

The head of the New Radiophonic Workshop retells the Noise series using only the sounds.