Bell-ringer's joy at being added to cathedral art

Kevin ShoesmithEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Lincoln Cathedral A signwriter adds Jeremy Wheeldon's name to a stone wall using a thinly tipped paintbrush and black paint.Lincoln Cathedral
Jeremy Wheeldon's name is added to the east wall of Ringers' Chapel at Lincoln Cathedral

A bell-ringer has told of his pride at having his name added to a piece of 17th Century wall art at Lincoln Cathedral.

Jeremy Wheeldon's name now appears on the east wall of the Ringers' Chapel, continuing a tradition that spans centuries.

His name features alongside other Masters of the Company of Ringers.

Wheeldon said: "It is such a great honour to see my name added to the wall in the Ringers' Chapel, alongside such notable ringers, and to see this tradition continued. It's incredible."

Lincoln Cathedral Jeremy Wheeldon, a man with short grey hair and glasses, is smiling. He is wearing a blue and white check short under a navy jumper.Lincoln Cathedral
Jeremy Wheeldon has been ringing regularly at the cathedral for 27 years

The earliest date shown is 1614, but the original painting, still visible underneath, dates back to the 13th Century.

According to managers, the practice was revived in 1913 following restoration of the Ringers' Chapel and continues to the present day.

Wheeldon has been ringing regularly at the cathedral for 27 years.

Lincoln Cathedral The finish work, in a calligraphy style, states Jeremy Wheeldon in 2025Lincoln Cathedral
Jeremy Wheeldon has been Master of the Company of Ringers at Lincoln Cathedral since 2015

He learned the art of bellringing as a teenager in the 1980s under the tutelage of former master Jack Millhouse, whose name also appears on the wall.

Signwriter Jay Chapman, who added Wheeldon's name, said: "I love working on quirky numbers like this.

"It's great because I'm never going to do this again and there's going to be a piece of my work in the cathedral for years and years to come, long after I've gone."

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