SELLY OAK* St Mary 8, 12-1-17 in G
| Grid Reference | 139/038822 |  |
| Postocde | B29 6NG | |
| Recording | ||
| Affilitations | St Martin's Guild & Worcestershire & Districts Assoc |
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| Peals | Felstead Database | |
| Sunday | 0915-1000 | |
| Practice | Wednesday 1945-2100 |
History
A rather peripatetic church! Historically in Worcestershire it moved into Birmingham in 1911 and hence became part of Warwickshire, but has never been administered from County Hall. Selly Oak used to be in the Parish of Northfield, but with the large increase in population of Victorian times it was decided that the new parish of St Mary Selly Oak should be established and a church built. The land was given by Mr Joseph Frederick Ledsham, then the Lord of the Manor, who laid the foundation stone on 12 July 1860. The construction of St Mary's took just over a year, and the church was consecrated on 12 September 1861. The architect was Mr Edward Holmes. The building is in a Victorian version of the Decorated Gothic style.
One bell bell was placed in the tower in 1860 to which a tenor and four trebles were added in 1864. The tenor was apparently recast in 1884. To produce a heavier ring of 8 a tenor and treble were added and the fourth recast in 1887, to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee. All this work was undertaken by Warners. They were hung in a two-tier frame, with bells 2 and 6 on top.
These became unsafe by 1922. Later funds were raised and a faculty issued to rehang the bells in a new frame with new fittings. This was changed to a full recasting of the ring shortly afterwards when it was clear that funds were available for this. The bells were recast in 1931-2, when the tower was refurbished. The second has, at some point, been quarter turned.
The tower is in the Diocese of Birmingham and therefore part of the St Martins Guild "territory", but has retained its links with the "Worcesters", as part of the "and Districts" bit of the title!
Details of the Bells
1 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 4-0-07 25.50" 1548.0Hz (G-22c)
2 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 4-0-18 26.00" 1451.0Hz (F#-34c)
3 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 4-0-24 27.125" 1290.0Hz (E-37c)
4 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 4-3-20 28.75" 1161.0Hz (D-20c)
5 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 5-3-15 31.125" 1032.0Hz (C-24c)
6 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 6-2-18 33.00" 968.0Hz (B-35c)
7 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 9-0-21 36.50" 871.0Hz (A-18c)
8 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon 1932 12-1-17 40.50" 774.0Hz (G-22c)
Details of the Warner Ring
1 John Warner & Sons, London 1887 4-1-09 26.25"
2 John Warner & Sons, London 1864 4-1-23 27.00"
3 John Warner & Sons, London 1864 4-1-20 27.50"
4 John Warner & Sons, London 1864 4-2-26 29.00"
5 John Warner & Sons, London 1887 6-0-08 32.00"
6 John Warner & Sons, London 1860 7-0-04 34.00"
7 John Warner & Sons, London 1884 9-3-11 38.00"
8 John Warner & Sons, London 1887 11-2-15 41.00" in F sharp
(scrapping weights)
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