Look To

‘Look To’ has been informed by, and includes, material gathered from the local community, in particular the bell-ringers. With their co-operation, we have gathered audio and pictorial histories of both the church and the village in the heart of Romney Marsh.

In the main body of the church hangs a sound sculpture loosely based on the rhythms of the bell peals. Selected excerpts have been taken from voice recordings to construct the "bell" sounds. The audio is played through a physical structure that reflects the inside of the bell tower, which is out of bounds to the general public. This enables the invisible originators of the traditional church bell sounds – so associated with churches – to be made visible and offers a celebration of this ancient tradition.

In the side chapel, Output Arts presents a film with impressions of Romney Marsh, Brookland and the bell-ringers.

Output Arts visited Brookland Church on Romney Marsh on many occasions across two months to talk to the community and gather material. This included photography, video and audio recordings of the area and the people. In particular, intrigued by the unique separate bell-tower of Brookland Church, Output Arts decided to focus on the bell-ringers of Brookland.

Recorded interviews with the bell-ringers were used as the basis for an audio installation that used the patterns of the bells combined with the voices of the bell-ringers to produce a meditative piece that played within the church. This audio was played from a hanging installation that mimicked the way the bell ropes hang within the bell-tower, which is normally closed to the public. The playing of the audio was triggered by a motion sensor activated by someone walking under the installation.

A separate video was made to provide context for the audio installation, allowing visitors to the church to see the bell-ringers in action and consider the part they play within the church community, and how the church fits within the wider area of Romney Marsh.

Output Arts would like to thank Rev. Shuna Body, Ro Pegg, the congregation of St Augustine Church, Margaret Alflatt, BJ Builders, Jamie Robertson, Rodrigo Pinto and particular thanks to Ken, Claire, John, Mary, Jackie and Sue – the Brookland Bell Band – for their time and enthusiasm in helping us to create this installation.