Stottesdon St Mary's has a ring of 4 bells hanging on a heritage wood frame.
We have an active group of ringers but always welcome new people who would like to learn this art.
We have a practice evening every Friday starting at 5:00pm for 1 hour, and ring for Sunday services at 10:00am for 30 mins before the service starts.
If you are interested in joining our bellringers please email [email protected]
A brief history of the bells and tower
The bell tower was built in two stages between around 1150 and 1350.
In 1552 inventory records "4 belles and a lyttle belle". In 1752 these were recast by Abel Rudhall of Gloucester to make a peal of 5 bells.
Around 1800 the No. 2 bell cracked and was removed from the frame and there are now only the four bells. The bells are well pitched G-A-B-C with the treble (smallest) bell weighing in at around 5.5CWT and the tenor (biggest) at 9.5CWT.
The bells were rung continuously until 1949 when ringing was suspended because of the structural state of the tower.
Repairs to the tower were carried out in 1971 and more extensively in 1992, although because of deterioration of the wheels and bearings the bells still couldn't be rung until a modest scheme of restoration was performed between 2002-2005 when full circle ringing resumed.
In 2024 further work was carried out on the treble bell and bell-frame and are all bells now all in good condition and rung for services and special occasions.
The bells are inscribed; Treble - PROSPERITY TO THE PARISH; No. 2 - ABEL RUDHALL CAST US ALL; No. 3 - EDWD. POWIS & EDWD. HYDE CHURCHWARDENS; Tenor - I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL AND TO THE GRAVE DO SUMMON ALL.
A bit about the clock
The clock is referred to as early as 1776 in the churchwardens accounts for repairs. The present clock is dated 1855 and is inscribed SAMUEL EDWARDS, BRIDGNORTH, THOMAS HYDE AND BENJAMIN BIRKIN, CHURCHWARDENS.
It is interesting that the surname of one the churchwardens is the same as when the bells were recast a hundred years before.
The clock has given excellent service for 150 years. In 1992 the dial was restored, but otherwise with a minimum of maintenance required. The clock was wound manually by members of the Morris family in the village until 2015 when a grant was obtained to fit a mechanism to automatically wind the weights.