| Where: | Scarcliffe, Derbyshire at St Leonard's Church on Main Street |
| When: | Daily 3 weeks before and after Christmas Day |
| Time: | Usually around 6pm to 7pm (see Helpful Hints) |
St Leonard’s Church at Scarcliffe has a tradition dating back many hundreds of years in midwinter, when the curfew bell is tolled on the darkest nights of the year. The custom originated after Lady Constantia, whose effigy may be seen inside the church, gratefully left lands and money for a curfew to be rung after the church bells guided her to safety when she and her baby were lost in the nearby forest. Today the curfew bell still rings on a daily basis on the three weeks before and after Christmas.
Helpful Hints
While the curfew is rung each day in accordance with the custom, and it usually happens between around 6pm and 7pm for about 20 minutes, it can be challenging for the parishioners to find enough willing bellringers for a set time over the whole period, so be aware that the time for this may vary.
Click here for church contacts: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13210/
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