Churchover

Holy Trinity 4: 6cwt in Bb (GF) – Ringing Not Permitted

Grid Reference 140/510808 Churchover.Source: David Kelly
Postcode CV23 0EW
Recording None
Affiliation Coventry DG
Peals None
Sunday None
Practice None
Other Information Ringing Not Permitted

History

The last church in the Diocese, with bells, in this direction. The church exterior is largely of 1896-7 when the building was partially rebuilt and heavily restored by W. Bassett Smith. The tower, however, dates from the C15 with a recessed spire and a later parapet. The spire was restored in 1885, 1911 and again in 2008-9 Rescued from “unringability” in 1990 by Rugby Deanery ringers and friends, nevertheless these bells remained somewhat challenging and the inexperienced often found them too difficult to manage.

The frame and fittings were originally by John Over of Rugby 1804, who sub-contracted the recasting of the third to John Briant of Hertford. This work cost £49. Tilley and Walters report that in 1552 there were “iij bells and a saunce bell” and that in 1750 there were “5 bells”. The inscriptions are given in Tilley and Walters’ book, “The Church Bells of Warwickshire” as being:

Churchover Inscriptions

The tuning of the ring shows them to be approximately the front 4 of a ring of 5. All the bells retain their canons and are untuned. A chiming apparatus was installed in 1948 by W.E. Burnell of Rugby, who supplied similar systems to several churches in the area.

Some work was done to the installation in 1990 that made the bells ringable again. This was reported in The Ringing World of October 12th 1990:

Churchover. RW 1990

Due to the serious wear on the soundbow of the tenor the advice is not to allow ringing of this bell until quarter turning, removal of the cast in crown staple and replacement bearings have been fitted. The PCC have decided that they will not allow ringing on the front 3 either.

Details of the Bells

1 Hugh Watts, Leicester   1622  3cwt   26.125″  1310.5Hz (E-11c)
2 Hugh Watts, Leicester   1622  4¼cwt  27.625″  1190.5Hz (D+23c)
3 John Briant, Hertford   1803  5cwt   29.75″   1105.0Hz (C#-7c)
4 Newcombe, Leicester    c1600  7cwt   33.125″   977.0Hz (Bb-19c)

Photo Gallery

Churchover West Churchover East
The Church – Looking West The Church – Looking East
Churchover Bells Churchover Bells
Churchover Bells Churchover Bells
The Wooden Topped Clapper
Churchover Bells Views of the Bells.
Source: Keith Chambers
Soundbow Wear
Layout 4.X11
The frame layout