YORK Minster has appointed a new Head of Bell Tower.

Angela Mitchell, a member of the Minster’s former bell ringing team for more than 20 years, will be responsible for the ring of 12 bells at the cathedral.

One of her first tasks will be to help recruit and establish the Minster’s new band of volunteer bell ringers, following the controversial axing of the old team last autumn.

A spokeswoman said the Minster received applications from 42 bell ringers from York and the wider region to join the new team, with more than three quarters of the applications coming from members of the previous band.

She said Angela, a headteacher at a school in York and a member of the Minster’s congregation, came from a family of bell ringers, was married to a ringer and had a daughter who was also one.

"She had her first bell handling lesson at the age of 11 and then learnt to ring at St Michael’s Church Flixton, Manchester, where her parents rang," she said.

"Eight months later, Angela’s family moved to Australia for a year. Within 14 months of first learning to ring, Angela had rung at two towers in England and 10 in Australia.

Angela said: “The reason I applied for the job is quite simple. I want York Minster’s magnificent bells to ring out again each Sunday and for other key occasions.

"The Minster needed someone who could help to achieve that and someone with a set of specific skills including risk assessments, safeguarding, health and safety and safer recruitment – all of which I do as part of my everyday work as a headteacher.

“The recent history of bell ringing at the Minster has been difficult and there is some healing to do. However I am really looking forward to working with the new team and I hope that the news of my appointment will help to move things forward.”

Recruitment and induction of the new volunteer bell ringing team will take place during the summer using the Church of England’s Safer Recruitment processes focusing on safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, security, health and safety.

The new volunteer bell ringing team will be fully up and running in the early autumn.