This article has been written for us by Jo Worsely, the Captain of the Twineham Tower. Thanks Jo!
How old are the Twineham bells?
Here in Twineham the belfry originally had two bells which were increased to three in 1635. Our two oldest bells, the 3rd bell cast in 1533 is dedicated to “St John the Baptist” and the 4th bell cast in 1522 dedicated to “Simon Peter” with a medallion of Henry VIII moulded in relief.
By 1912 the 17th century tenor bell had cracked and the frame was crumbling, leaving only the two older bells in use. Col. McKergow, church warden at the time, saw this as a good opportunity to get a decent ring in the tower that would sound so much better than the ding- dong of the two bells being chimed. He had ideas of a Twineham band of ringers too, and so bell founders, Mears & Stainbank, (now the Whitechapel Bell Foundry) were alerted and advised the churchwardens that a total of 6 bells could fit into the belfry. For reasons, possibly relating to cost, the church wardens decided not to go ahead with 6 bells but to order two new bells, quarter turn the old two, re-cast the 1635 tenor and reinstate the frame, at a cost of £264. What a great shame that the price of a 6th bell was out of their reach! The tenor bell contains the names of both church wardens Col. R W McKergow and J Leslie Smith who are too remembered for their efforts in organising the major overhaul of our bells in 1912 which also included adding the first floor ringing chamber from where the bells have since been rung.
Bell ringing is a very friendly and sociable hobby. It requires a great deal of team spirit and the ability to work in close relationship with others. Our team of bell ringers at Twineham came together 7 years ago following a period without any ringing. The three wheels at the back from left to right are bells 3, 4 and 5 (tenor). The front two wheels are bell 2 on the left and the treble on right.
THE TWINEHAM BELLS
From complete beginners we are now ringing methods and quarter peals. We also ring for services, weddings and other special occasions. As part of the T500 celebrations, a full peal was rung (the first in 18 years) and this has been commemorated on a specially designed peal board which is on display in the church.
Bell ringing has always had a strong secular side to it. Bell ringers very much appreciate that this can only happen through the good and often generous offices of the Church and her ministers. Some enjoy the challenge of ringing a full peal of a particularly complicated method, whereas others enjoy the ability to visit other churches to ring the bells there. With over 6,000 towers to choose from there is plenty of variety.
We visit other towers to ring, organise outings and events and welcome old and new ringers to Twineham whereby we hope that they appreciate the character and tone of our historic bells along with the enthusiasm and friendliness of our ringers.
How much do the Twineham bells weigh?
One subject always of great interest is the weight of the bells. Bells hung for chiming are not usually mounted on a wheel and can be swung through only a small arc, as in the bell at Christ Church, Sayers Common and St Bartholomews in Albourne. The short travel of the bell causes the clapper to strike the inside and so sound. Bells hung for full circle ringing are mounted on a wheel and need to be swung mouth upwards for change-ringing to be possible. This obviously limits the weight of bells used for ringing, whereas bells for chiming can be much heavier. The heaviest bell in Britain is Great Paul at St Paul’s Cathedral, London which weighs 334 cwt (16¾ tonnes). Needless to say this bell is hung for chiming only, as is Big Ben at Westminster (270 cwt). Our tenor bell here at St Peter’s weighs 6-3-22 which is 6cwt 3qr 22lbs (778lbs or 353kg) and the note is A.
.
St Peter’s is a little unusual in that there are an odd number of bells. Most towers have 6 or 8 bells. Some do have more, for example St Peter’s and St Nicholas churches in Brighton both have 10 bells; St Swithun’s church in East Grinstead houses the only ring of 12 in Sussex. There are even towers with 16 bells.
How old are the Twineham bells?
Here in Twineham the belfry originally had two bells which were increased to three in 1635. Our two oldest bells, the 3rd bell cast in 1533 is dedicated to “St John the Baptist” and the 4th bell cast in 1522 dedicated to “Simon Peter” with a medallion of Henry VIII moulded in relief.
By 1912 the 17th century tenor bell had cracked and the frame was crumbling, leaving only the two older bells in use. Col. McKergow, church warden at the time, saw this as a good opportunity to get a decent ring in the tower that would sound so much better than the ding- dong of the two bells being chimed. He had ideas of a Twineham band of ringers too, and so bell founders, Mears & Stainbank, (now the Whitechapel Bell Foundry) were alerted and advised the churchwardens that a total of 6 bells could fit into the belfry. For reasons, possibly relating to cost, the church wardens decided not to go ahead with 6 bells but to order two new bells, quarter turn the old two, re-cast the 1635 tenor and reinstate the frame, at a cost of £264. What a great shame that the price of a 6th bell was out of their reach! The tenor bell contains the names of both church wardens Col. R W McKergow and J Leslie Smith who are too remembered for their efforts in organising the major overhaul of our bells in 1912 which also included adding the first floor ringing chamber from where the bells have since been rung.
Bell ringing is a very friendly and sociable hobby. It requires a great deal of team spirit and the ability to work in close relationship with others. Our team of bell ringers at Twineham came together 7 years ago following a period without any ringing. The three wheels at the back from left to right are bells 3, 4 and 5 (tenor). The front two wheels are bell 2 on the left and the treble on right.
THE TWINEHAM BELLS
From complete beginners we are now ringing methods and quarter peals. We also ring for services, weddings and other special occasions. As part of the T500 celebrations, a full peal was rung (the first in 18 years) and this has been commemorated on a specially designed peal board which is on display in the church.
Bell ringing has always had a strong secular side to it. Bell ringers very much appreciate that this can only happen through the good and often generous offices of the Church and her ministers. Some enjoy the challenge of ringing a full peal of a particularly complicated method, whereas others enjoy the ability to visit other churches to ring the bells there. With over 6,000 towers to choose from there is plenty of variety.
We visit other towers to ring, organise outings and events and welcome old and new ringers to Twineham whereby we hope that they appreciate the character and tone of our historic bells along with the enthusiasm and friendliness of our ringers.
How much do the Twineham bells weigh?
One subject always of great interest is the weight of the bells. Bells hung for chiming are not usually mounted on a wheel and can be swung through only a small arc, as in the bell at Christ Church, Sayers Common and St Bartholomews in Albourne. The short travel of the bell causes the clapper to strike the inside and so sound. Bells hung for full circle ringing are mounted on a wheel and need to be swung mouth upwards for change-ringing to be possible. This obviously limits the weight of bells used for ringing, whereas bells for chiming can be much heavier. The heaviest bell in Britain is Great Paul at St Paul’s Cathedral, London which weighs 334 cwt (16¾ tonnes). Needless to say this bell is hung for chiming only, as is Big Ben at Westminster (270 cwt). Our tenor bell here at St Peter’s weighs 6-3-22 which is 6cwt 3qr 22lbs (778lbs or 353kg) and the note is A.
.
St Peter’s is a little unusual in that there are an odd number of bells. Most towers have 6 or 8 bells. Some do have more, for example St Peter’s and St Nicholas churches in Brighton both have 10 bells; St Swithun’s church in East Grinstead houses the only ring of 12 in Sussex. There are even towers with 16 bells.