Bells
St
Peter’s Bells and the St Peter’s Guild of Bellringers
A
ring of 10 bells with a tenor of 17cwt 2qrts 15lbs.
In addition there is a Sanctus bell which is hung for full-circle
ringing and can be used as a sharp Seventh to provide an alternative light ring
of six.
The bells were augmented in 1991, by Whitechapel Bellfoundry, with
money from the Capper bequest. The original ring of eight (tenor 11 cwt) where
retained, except for the Treble and Second which were both recast, and a new
Treble, Seventh and Tenor were added. The “old” Sixth became the Sanctus
bell.
In 1769 St. Peter’s had four
bells, which had probably been acquired one at a time down the years, the oldest
known date being 1595. These
bells would have been hung only for swing chiming.
1769 saw the installation of the first six bell ring, hung for full
circle ringing in the English manner, and properly tuned to a recognised musical
scale, in this case F# Major. The
new bells were cast at the Whitechapel Bellfoundry, who probably melted down the
old four bells to provide some or all of the metal for the new ring.
In 1892 the ring was augmented to eight bells, a full octave in F# Major,
by the addition of two more Whitechapel bells sponsored by the Wallis family.
Finally, in 1991 the ring was
further augmented to ten bells, again by Whitechapel, this work being financed
from the Capper bequest. At
the same time the ring was converted to the key of E Major. One of the old bells, the one tuned to A#, was
not a part of the scale in E Major, but it has been retained as a Sanctus Bell.
As it is still hung for full circle ringing we actually have eleven
bells, but the ring is officially designated as “a ten bell ring with one
semitone bell.” Of
the six 1769 bells, two are still in use (now the 4th and 6th).
The other four had needed to be recast at various times, due to becoming
cracked.
St Peter’s Guild of Bellringers
Tower Captain – Richard Kennard
- 01424 213849
kennard@globalnet.co.uk
Deputy
Captain – Margaret Pink - 01424
213669
pink.bexhill@virgin.net
Secretary – John Walder – 01424 215600 John.walder@dsl.pipex.com
The bells are rung each Sunday:-
9.15 to 9.40 a.m. for 9.45 Eucharist
5.30 to 5.55 p.m. for 6.00 Evensong
and Mid-week
7.15 to 7.40 p.m. for 7.45 p.m High Festivals
(Ash Wednesday, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi etc.)
Practice is on Tuesday night from 7.30 – 9.00 p.m. (except Holy
Week, the 1st week in August and High Festivals)
Visitors are always welcome but you are advised to check on a
Sunday evening that a quarter peal has not been arranged.
The ringers currently number about 18 regular ringers.
Social events during the year include a day outing, a weekend or mid-week
away outing, a jumble sale to raise money for tower funds and an annual dinner.
Traditionally the Ringers entertain the congregation to mince pies and mulled
wine after the “Carols for All” Service. Ringers are encouraged to, and
indeed do, take active parts in many different facets of St Peter’s church
life.
Ringers are proposed for membership of the Sussex County
Association of Change Ringers when they have reached the appropriate standard,
and attendance at ringing meetings and training days is encouraged.
The ringers actively seek to recruit and train new ringers and
anyone interested in learning to ring is requested to contact the Tower Captain,
Deputy Captain or Secretary, or alternatively attend one of our Tuesday Practice
Nights.