Church Bells of Warwickshire

OXHILL St Lawrence 5, 8-3-13 in Ab (GF)

Grid Reference	151/317445
Postcode	CV35 0QZ
Recording	None Available
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	Felstead Database
Sunday	None
Practice	None
Other Information	Church Website

History

The church consists of a chancel, nave, north porch, and west tower. Both the nave and the chancel date from about the middle of the 12th century, but the south wall of the chancel has been considerably repaired several times, and the east wall was entirely rebuilt in the 17th or 18th century. The nave retains its original doorways, one north window, and the chancel arch, but the south wall has been largely restored in later periods. The clearstory was added early in the 16th century. The west tower and the north porch were early-15th-century additions. Dated restorations are 1865 (chancel), 1877–8, and 1908.

Originally there where three bells in the tower, all cast in 1701 by William Bagley of Chacombe. In 1878, during the general restoration of the church, the tenor bell (which had been cracked) was recast by John Taylor and Co. of Loughborough. At the same time two new bells were added to make the present ring of five, and the bells were hung in a new frame by Thomas Mallaby of Masham. The ring was dedicated at a special service on Sunday 25th. August 1878. All the bells retain their canons, except the tenor which was cast without them.

The inscriptions are given in Tilley and Walters' book, "The Church Bells of Warwickshire":

They were renovated locally in 1989 to restore the bells to ringing order after they fell silent in the 1960s due to problems with the supporting beams. An RSJ was inserted under the frame to strengthen it. They do, however, remain a little fragile and should be rung with care. The first peal on the bells was rung in 1989:

Enter through the North Door and ring from the ground floor. Park carefully by the churchyard gate.

Details of the Bells

1 William Bagley, Chacombe        1701  3-2-00  25.00"  1280.5Hz (Eb+49c)
2 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough  1878  4-1-14  27.50"  1133.0Hz (Db+37c)
3 William Bagley, Chacombe        1701  4-0-14  28.00"  1053.5hz (C+12c)
4 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough  1878  7-0-07  32.25"   940.5Hz (Bb+15c)
5 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough  1878  8-3-13  37.25"   822.5Hz (Ab-17c)

Photo Gallery
The Church - Looking East	The Church - Looking West