Church Bells of Warwickshire

BOURNVILLE* St Lazar (Serbian Orthodox) 3, 9-1-23 in Ab

lazar.jpg (71600 bytes)

Grid Reference:-
139/034809

Postcode:
B30 1QG

Bell Audio:-
None Available

Guild Affiliation:-
None

Peals Rung Here:-
None

No Regular Ringing

History Of The Bells

This church was built in 1965-8 for the community of Serbs who had fled from Yugoslavia after the Second World War and settled in Birmingham. The building of the church was led by Father Zebic, priest to the Serbian community from 1956 until the 1990s. Designed in the ancient Serbian style, the church was built by Serbian craftsmen using many materials imported specially from Yugoslavia. As is traditional in this denomination, there are no pews in the church. More recently, in 1986-7, St.Lazar’s Cultural Centre has been built alongside the church.

At the bottom of the walls are the warrior saints, above these are patriarchs and priestly saints, and at the top are the apostles and scenes from the 12 Christian feasts. These wall-paintings have not only been executed in a perfect Byzantine style but they also are al-fresco i.e. the paint had been applied meticulously to wet walls.

The south west tower contains a swing chime of three bells in A flat, the largest having a diameter of 37 inches. They have no stays or sliders and are therefore really a swing chime. However, they can be rung full circle. They form a triad in Ab, i.e. Eb, C and Ab.

(Most of the above information is quoted directly (with permission) from the research notes of Chris Pickford)

Details Of The Bells

1   John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1967   3-1-19   26.00"   1232.0Hz (Eb-17c)
2   John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1967   4-3-24   30.00"   1036.0Hz (C-17c)
3   John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1967   9-1-23   37.00"    827.5Hz (Ab-6c)

Photo Gallery

lazar2.jpg (87233 bytes)
A view of the rear of the church
showing the central dome.
chambers2.jpg (43020 bytes)
A close-up of the belfry
The frame and bells can be clearly seen.