Churches across Nottinghamshire Mark VE Day Anniversary with Bell Ringing Tribute

Church bells rang out across Nottinghamshire on Thursday 8th May 2025 as more than 50 churches took part in nationwide celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

The peals began at 6.30pm, echoing the moment in 1945 when the bells were first rung again after years of wartime silence. During World War II, UK church bells had been silenced, reserved only to warn of invasion.

Ringers from nearly 50 towers joined the commemorations, with some teams travelling between churches to cover shortages. In places like Beeston, Eastwood, and Ruddington, expert teams attempted challenging Quarter Peals lasting nearly an hour.

In Calverton and Sutton cum Lound, the bells accompanied community events including a vintage tractor parade and a flower festival, adding a festive note to the solemn remembrance.

Additional bellringing continued through the weekend, keeping alive a tradition of sound that once signaled peace after years of war. Please see below a selection of photos from across some of the churches, with thanks to Southwell & Nottingham Guild of Bellringers for collating this all together.

As part of the VE Day events last week, Bishop Paul spoke in the House of Lords on Friday in the VE Day Commemoration debate. In his speech he paid tribute to the armed forces chaplains that served with great distinction, as well as the The Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry who were one of the four regiments tasked to lead the British assault landings on the normandy beaches on D-Day.

Looking ahead, Bishop Paul highlighted the importance of enhancing the engagement in peace-making alongside further investment in defence spending. Also how we can all work for peace in many ways, and in reference to the newly elected Pope Leo the 14th, shared how we can all be ‘lionhearted bridge builders in our broken and divided world’.