Bell Ringing

The bells are now back in use. They were rung at practice for the first time in nearly 4 months on Saturday 9th October 2010. All appears to be well! Our grateful thanks to Martin Waldron, Edmund Wratten, Gerry Cornick and Peter Clarke for all the time and effort they put in to ensure that our bells can be heard ringing across the valley once again.

The ring of bells is housed in the church tower. The tower has four floors, the ground floor being the west door entrance. This was also the vestry prior to 1908.

The first floor is the Ringing Chamber and is accessed by a flight of steps. The second floor is the Silence Chamber, the third floor housing the ring of six bells.

The second and third floors are reached by a small stone spiral staircase from outside.

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The five largest bells were cast in 1802 by James Wells of Aldbourn and the treble (cast by John Taylor of Loughborough) was added to complete the ring in 1932.

Bells 4, 5 and the tenor are inscribed:

"JA^sWELLS ALDBOURN FECIT 1802 JN^o FIFIELD & W^m PERN C^h WARDENS"

Bells 2 and 3 have no inscription.

The treble was dedicated on Sunday 7th February 1932 and is inscribed:

"To the Glory of God. This bell was added to complete the peal of six, the gift of the Barron Bell Trust, 1932"

The bells swing in the unusual direction of north and south. This is the weakest direction for the tower but the tower does not move, as many do.

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The five largest bells were re-hung after the fire in 1909. All six bells were removed from the tower in 1981 and taken to Whitechapel Bell Foundry where they were tuned, re-hung with new fittings including roller bearings and quarter turned. They were re-dedicated during Matins on 22nd November 1981.

To mark the new millenium, the bells were rung at midnight on 31st December 1999 and again, with bells nationwide, at noon on 1st January 2000.

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Our bells are rung regularly by our own team of bell ringers and by visiting bands. Practice takes place on Saturday mornings between 10.00 am and 11.30 am. (Note that on the Saturday immediately preceeding the first Sunday in the month it is usual for the practice to be held at Micheldever, and the team ring for the 10.00 am service at Micheldever on the Sunday).

We are always looking for new ringers. If you would like to join the team or visit us to find out more about this ancient skill, please join us on a Saturday morning.

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More information can be obtained from our Tower Captain, Gerry Cornick, telephone 01962-884774. You can be assured of a warm welcome.

Visiting teams wishing to use our bells should contact the Tower Secretary, Wally Taylor on 01962-882495

Bell Ringing

The ring of bells is housed in the church tower. The tower has four floors, the ground floor being the west door entrance. This was also the vestry prior to 1908.

The first floor is the Ringing Chamber and is accessed by a flight of steps. The second floor is the Silence Chamber, the third floor housing the ring of six bells.

The second and third floors are reached by a small stone spiral staircase from outside.

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The five largest bells were cast in 1802 by James Wells of Aldbourn and the treble (cast by John Taylor of Loughborough) was added to complete the ring in 1932.

Bells 4, 5 and the tenor are inscribed:

Bells 2 and 3 have no inscription.

The treble was dedicated on Sunday 7th February 1932 and is inscribed:

The bells swing in the unusual direction of north and south. This is the weakest direction for the tower but the tower does not move, as many do.

-------------

To mark the new millenium, the bells were rung at midnight on 31st December 1999 and again, with bells nationwide, at noon on 1st January 2000.

-------------

We are always looking for new ringers. If you would like to join the team or visit us to find out more about this ancient skill, please join us on a Saturday morning.

-------------

More information can be obtained from our Tower Captain, Gerry Cornick, telephone 01962-884774. You can be assured of a warm welcome.

Visiting teams wishing to use our bells should contact the Tower Secretary, Wally Taylor on 01962-882495

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Our current ringing team is:

Gerry Cornick (Tower Captain)

Elizabeth Barrett

Jan Barrett

Peter Barrett

Ian Cornick

Sandy Fitzgerald

Paul Fitzgerald

Valerie Keel

Michael Longy

Kate Rogers

Dorothy Sweeney

Wally Taylor (Tower Secretary)

Gratefully assisted by:

Coral Northeast

Edmund Wratten