Grid Reference:-
139/112923
Postcode:
B23 6QN
Bell Audio:-
None Available
Guild Affiliation:-
St Martins Guild
Peals Rung Here:-
Felstead Database
Sunday Ringing:-
1010 - 1030
Practice Night:-
Friday
1930 - 2100
History Of The Bells
The intention was that this building would form just part of a much bigger Abbey. However this was never completed due to lack of funds. The church therefore is situated North-South, rather than the more normal East-West. Built by Charles Hansom, the steeple of the church is 117 ft high, which is also the length of the building. In 1876 Father Haigh handed over his church, parish and estate of four acres to the Benedictine monks from Beuron in Germany, exiled for their faith from their own country.
A single bell was placed in the tower in 1848. It was cast by Taylors of Loughborough and weighed 12-3-14 in E. Though a quotation for five more bells was soon asked of Taylors by the church it was not until 1877 that a ring was installed. They were a ring of eight (tenor 14-2-8 in F) cast by William Blews of Birmingham in 1877 and blessed on january 20th 1878. They were hung in a two-tier wooden frame, with bells 1, 2, 4 and 6 in the top tier and bells 3, 5, 7 and 8 below. The fittings were overhauled by Blews in 1883 and reopened on 15 January with a peal.
The original bells were recast on the occasion of the centenary of the church. The new bells were first rung on 10 June and the first peal was rung the following Saturday. They now hang in a cast iron frame and new fittings by Taylors, 1950. Bells 3, 4 and 7 hang above the other 5. They are a fine sounding ring of bells.
There is a small bell (3-3-10) hung for chiming in the turret by the south door. It was originally hung for ringing.
There is a church car park, the entrance being just uphill from the Abbey.
(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 1950 4-1-00 26.375" 1383.0Hz (F-17c) 2 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 4-2-21 27.375 1306.0Hz (E-17c) 3 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 5-0-26 29.00" 1164.0Hz (D-16c) 4 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 6-0-07 31.00" 1037.0Hz (C-16c) 5 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 7-0-26 33.625" 924.0Hz (Bb-16c) 6 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 8-0-27 35.50" 871.0Hz (A-18c) 7 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 11-0-06 39.125" 777.0Hz (G-16c) 8 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1950 15-3-16 44.125" 692.0Hz (F-16c)
Details Of The Blews Bells
1 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 5-0-15 27.75" 1460.0Hz (F+76c) 2 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 5-0-06 28.50" 1367.0Hz (E+63c) 3 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 5-0-22 29.625" 1193.0Hz (D+27c) 4 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 6-2-20 32.375" 1077.0Hz (C+50c) 5 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 7-2-11 34.625" 964.0Hz (Bb+58c) 6 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 8-2-07 36.25" 895.0Hz (A+29c) 7 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 11-2-04 40.00" 792.0Hz (G+18c) 8 William Blews & Sons, Birmingham 1877 14-2-08 44.00" 704.0Hz (F+14c)
Photo Gallery
None Available