THE STORY
The six bells at St Mary’s Church were installed on iron headstocks mounted in a new cast iron frame standing on steel foundation beams and retuned to a high standard by John Taylor & Co in 1932.
As well as quarter chimes by the clock, since 1981 they have been regularly rung for weekly practices and services. The sound is much appreciated by the villagers. Many people have been taught to ring bells from this and surrounding villages. It has not been possible to train the raising of bells in peal due to the peculiarities of the bell mechanics.
By 1932 it had become the norm not to remove canons, the cast loops by which heritage bells were traditionally strapped to timber headstocks, before re-hanging on iron headstocks. To allow for this the iron headstocks on the three oldest bells (number 2, 3 and 5 all cast in 1623) were greatly arched (see photo 4426) and result in slower swinging compared to the flat top siblings (see photo 4422). This causes these three bells to swing slower than their siblings. It also makes the clappering troublesome to raise with the clappers the right side.
Prompted by the 400th birthday of the three oldest bells and the finding of some corrosion in the foundation beams and frame, professional opinions were sought. The best solution was found to be the removal of the bells, deal with incipient cracks found in the crown of the 3rd bell, repair the steelwork and re-hang all the bells on new specially designed headstocks with new clapper assemblies so that they more readily ring as a coherent ring of six bells. At the same time, we will de-rust and repaint the bell frame and update the electrics.
My engineering experience, influence and teaching skills as a bellringer since 1958 and Badby tower captain since 1980, wouldn’t last for much longer! With most major work on the church building having been dealt with in recent years, the PCC agreed that it was an opportune time to carry out this major work so that the ringing of the village’s heritage bells can continue more readily for the rest of the century and beyond with only minor attention.
THE WORK
We obtained a faculty from the Chancellor of the Diocese of Peterborough in May 2024 and the order was placed with the Nicholson Engineering Ltd, bellhangers on 21 January 2025. Work to remove the bells commenced on 16 June 2025 with the project due to be completed by mid-September 2025. We eventually heard then that the return of the bells would be badly delayed due to a very large hiccup in the fabrication of the new headstocks. Eventually our bells returned with all the new fittings on 2 March 2026. The clock chimes were setting going again on 11 March and the work was completed on Wednesday 18 March 2026 followed by a combined formal try-out and practice.
A full record of the work in progress with many photos can be seen here. There is also a display board in the church.
THE COSTS
The final project cash cost was £68,069 inc VAT
FUNDING
The cash funding for this project has come from thes sources:
- £3,784 Existing Bells Fund in December 2023
- £26,850 Charitable grants
- £29,675 Donations by individuals, ringers, sponsorship and a legacy
- £7,760 Listed Places of Worship Grants
- Total £68,069
The largest cotributions were: part of a legacy from Sally Bush; grants from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers Bell Fund and the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme. The latter covered much of the VAT, but before the final main invoice was received, the scheme was ended by government and its funds ran out!
In addition to the cash funding, the provision of volunteer labour enabled the bellhanger to reduce its total invoice by £8,790 + VAT!
Many thanks to everyone who contributed in any way.
BELLRINGING PRACTICES
With the kind co-operation of the local ringers and Clergy/Churchwardens, whilst our bells were out of the tower we continued our Wednesday practices at Staverton (14 times), Newnham (13), Everdon & Weedon (3), Charwelton (2) and Welton & Litchborough (1)
GHP 7/11/2026
