Stedman is probably the historic ringer most well known to the non-ringing public. He was born in Yarkhill, Herefordshire in 1640, the son of a parson. He published the first ever book on change ringing, Tintinnalogia, in 1668 and wrote the second book, Campanalogia, published in 1677.
He is sometimes associated with St Bennet’s church Cambridge but there is no sound historical evidence for this. He was apprenticed to a London printer, became auditor to Customs and Excise for the Crown, and died in London. He was buried at St Andrew Undershaft in the City on 16 November 1713. On the 300th anniversary, Saturday 16th November 2013, we will be attempting to ring 1713 changes of Stedman Triples in his memory and we will be joined by thousands of other ringers worldwide paying their tributes to ‘the father of change ringing’.
John Harrison (October 2013)
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