Token rules of the Roxton Ringers

The Roxton Ringers Club was founded in 1867. They rang the bells at every church service and met once a fortnight to practise. However, the club was more than just a mutual interest society. Each member paid at least a half-penny per week towards a general benefit fund for the club and their families.

When charging for their services at weddings, up to twelve shillings would be shared between the four ringers on the day in compensation for a lost day’s work. The rest was then paid into the general fund.

Each Christmas, the treasurer evenly distributed the general fund amongst the members. However, as the dividend was by definition of the rules, “in no case given in money”. he first exchanged the money for tokens which could be used for purchasing food, coal or clothing.

This was possibly to stop it being spent by the bellringer on himself rather than for the benefit of his family.

So, the club was in fact an early form of Christmas Club.

The rules also specified: “Any member guilty of drunkenness, the use of profane language, or any other disgraceful conduct, to be liable to expulsion, at the discretion of the Clergyman and Churchwardens”.