Grid Reference:-
140/379808
Postcode:
CV2 2AW
Bell Audio:-
Hear the bells
Guild Affiliation:-
Coventry DG
Peals Rung Here:-
Felstead Database
Sunday Ringing:-
0915 - 1000
Practice Night:-
Monday
1930 - 2100
History Of The Bells
The bells at this church were an unringable 7½cwt 5 for many years until in mid 1980s when they were recast and rehung. A peal of Bob Doubles was rung on the bells in 23/4/1927. It was noted at this time that the ringing conditions were difficult, suggesting that for over 60 years the bells were in need of attention.
The inscriptions on the old bells were repeated in facsimile on the new ones. One is ?Harke doe ye heare our claperes want beer? and the other "Quantum suffiifit bibiere volo clancula vos a" - not easy to translate from Latin, but clearly a reference to the beer-drinking habits of bellringers!. The trebles wwere Taylor of Oxford bells of 1843, the third a Taylor of Loughborough bell of 1872, the fourth and tenor were William Bagley bells of 1702.
The old frame was of late Seventeenth Century in date, built originally for four bells, with a square void in the middle. When the bells were augmented to 5 in 1843 the pit of the second bell was turned altered to accommodate the five bells. This frame was originally re-erected in the churchyard when the completely new installation was provided, but has subsequently had to be be demolished due to the activities of local youths in the churchyard.
The new H-frame and fittings are typical Taylors of the period.
There is an old post with 4 bell call changes on it in the tower that shows they were once an anticlockwise 4. See Chris Pickford's article which is in Ringing World of 20/27 December 1985 pp.1078-80 for fuller details.
The church is small but pretty, with a sympathetic modern extension on the south side, through which entry is normally gained.
It is usually best to park in the pub car park, The Red Lion just after the church, which is in another village that has gradually been absorbed to a large degree by Coventry. This is on a main dual-carriageway road from Junction 2 of the M6 and is near to Walsgrave Hospital. The "Sowe" in the title is a small river.
Details Of The Bells
1 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1984 2-2-04 22.375" 1682.0Hz (G#+22c) 2 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1984 3-1-08 24.00" 1492.0Hz (F#+14c) 3 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1984 3-1-09 24.875" 1325.5Hz (E+9c) 4 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1984 3-3-00 26.00" 1251.0Hz (D#+9c) 5 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1984 4-1-23 28.50" 1111.0Hz (C#+4c) 6 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1984 6-1-15 32.125" 986.0Hz (B-3c)
Photo Gallery
None Available