Church bells to break silence surrounding Domestic Abuse

About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men - rich, poor, young, old - suffer domestic abuse in the UK.

The ringing of the bells has been co-ordinated by the Revd Adrian Miller, Team Vicar in the Tas Valley Team Ministry. He said, "We don't often talk about domestic abuse. We don't like to acknowledge it. We might even make jokes about it. It may be hidden, but it happens, and it's horrid. We know that God cares about this. He hears the cries of those suffering. And we care because God cares. We may not have all the answers, but we know that this behaviour is wrong, we care about those who are suffering, and we want it to stop."

Several churches across the region will be ringing their bells on Sunday 27th November, or at other unusual times throughout the White Ribbon fortnight (25th Nov - 5th Dec). Adrian Miller said, "This is a simple act of showing solidarity with those who are suffering, and it is a parable of what we long for - a breaking of the silence. We understand how hard it can be to talk to anyone about what is going on, and yet how desperately victims long for freedom. We also appeal to those whose hands commit the acts, and we know how many feel chained by their own behaviour - help is available."