Ask not for whom the bell tolls, ask who's ringing the bell

Cyril McEwan takes pride in his job as community bell-ringer. The 62-year-old church usher from Craighton in the hills of rural St Andrew is admired in that community for his enviable church bell-ringing skills, a talent he developed over time.

"You have specific ways to ring it. Different occasions call for different methods," he said, standing outside St Mark's Anglican church in the community.

The 129-year-old Church has been McEwan's place of worship all his life, and he boasts that he was christened there as a child and got married there as an adult.

His long-time association with the church adds to the pride he feels whenever he climbs the ladder to ring the church bell, a duty he assumed several years ago.

"The bell is rung whenever someone in the community dies and when it's time for service to begin. It's a very important job," said McEwan.

"When someone dies and you are ringing the bell, it's a sign of respect. You have to do it slowly and respectfully to show that the person was a good and kind person. You should ring it as long as possible, but at least seven times."

Over the years, McEwan has made many-a-late-night trek to the church when someone from the community died. He also is the first to journey to the hillside church for watchnight service on New Year's Eve.

"I have to get here before everybody to ring the bell so people know it's time for service to start," he said.

"This church means everything to me, you know, and I believe that when you are doing a job you should do it properly. It doesn't matter if you running a big company or you ringing a church bell. You must do everything with pride and care."