Story
You may have noticed that only five bells have been ringing on Sunday mornings since the middle of April. This is due to major restoration work being needed in the belfry before we can ring all eight again. The bells of St Andrew’s are amongst the finest cast by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. They are highly regarded amongst bellringers, both locally and nationally, for their fine tone and are the second heaviest peal of eight bells in the county of Cornwall.
The damage in brief: the 6th bell’s cast iron bellframe is cracked, so it cannot be rung and the frame castings of the six heaviest bells have been pushed up and out of position by the effects of RSJ rusting expansion. Fortunately, all the necessary work can be carried out in the belfry, thus avoiding the entire bell installation having to be removed from the Tower.
We need to raise £32,000 to complete this work. Fortunately, we have some money in the Tower Sangwin Fund and Tower Captain Jo will be applying to various organisations for funding. However, if you would like to contribute to our Bells Restoration Project do please consider donating.
We cannot wait to get this beautiful peal of eight bells ringing again! In the meantime if you’d like a reminder, try this link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001pslh?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Please have a look at the gallery to see pictures of the ringing chamber, some of our ringers, some of the bells (see how complicated it is!) and bells / ringing inspired decorations at two of our past flower festivals. There are also two pictures and names from 1911.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to St Andrew’s. It’s an efficient way to donate.
If you’d like to know more about the history of the bells read on…
The Bells at St. Andrew’s – over 450 Years of History
1558 – 1598 – at this time the Tower boasted 5 bells and there are records which show considerable amounts of money were being spent on their renovation.
1778 – The 5 old bells were recast into 6, in the churchyard, by the three Penningtons:
1. Diameter at the mouth 29½ inches
2. Diameter at the mouth 31 inches
3. Diameter at the mouth 33 inches
4. Diameter at the mouth 35 inches
5. Diameter at the mouth, 38 inches
6. [Inscription on the Treble] I CALL THE QUICK TO CHURCH AND DEAD TO GRABE: Diameter at the mouth, 41 inches
1872 – The clock was placed in the Tower in thanksgiving for the recovery of HRH the Prince of Wales from his serious illness in 1872. There was one clock-face to the westward. The clock-face to the south (to face the market Field) was added in 1952. The mechanism was made by Gillett & Bland.
1881 - The chimes in the Tower date from 1881 but the “Guildford Chimes” which are heard now were placed in the church in memory of Octavia Honor King by her husband and children in November 1911. The winding mechanism of the clock chimes and striking device were electrified in 1973.
1911 – The Bells re-cast by Messrs. John Taylor & Co., Bell Foundry, Loughborough
cwt. qrs. lbs
Treble … … … … … 5 0 2
2nd … … … … … 5 1 24
3rd … … … … … 6 2 3
4th … … … … … 8 0 9
5th … … … … … 10 0 21
6th … … … … … 12 1 12
7th … … … … … 16 1 18
Tenor … … … … … 21 3 16
Cast on Thursday, 12th October, 1911
2nd July 1946 – Faculty. Re-hanging of the bells on ballbearings
28th November 1969 – a quote from The Ringing World journal.
For the past 15 years, if not more, they [Stratton bells] have rung out in full peal twice every Sunday – a proud record for the local band.
January 1984 – The floor of the Ringing Chamber was raised to facilitate ringing.The work was done by Arthur Fidler of Bow, Crediton in Devon.