Bell Ringers

All Saints tower contains 13 bells, a peal of 12 (tenor 29¾ cwt, C#) plus a semitone 2^nd bell, allowing a light eight of 9 cwt. The bells are hung for full-circle ringing in the English style.

The original central tower contained 5 bells by 1475 and 6 from some time in the 17^th century.

The peal of bells we have today has its origin in a new peal of eight bells cast in 1711 at the Whitechapel bell foundry. Two more bells were added later in the 18^th century to form a peal of ten and two more in 1909 to make twelve. In 1963 the semitone 2^nd bell was added.

Many of the bells have been replaced or recast over the years, so that today only one of the original 1711 peal remains, the current 10^th.

The bells are installed in a frame that is a mixture of oak, cast iron and steel.

The church clock strikes the quarters and hours (Westminster chimes), but for two hundred years the tower had a musical chiming mechanism, playing a different tune for each day of the week, the tune being played at three-hour intervals.  

The tower has a very active and competent band of bellringers capable of ringing to a high standard. A warm welcome awaits any visiting ringer; visitors on practice night should use the intercom on the north door to gain entry to the church.

The normal ringing times are:

Sunday           09.00 to 09.45

                     17.30 to 18.30 (2^nd and 4^th Sundays only)

Practice is on Mondays between 19.15 and 21.15

There is also a special monthly 12-bell practice.

Bellringing is both a service to God and a rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed at many levels. It takes time and application to learn, but most people that progress beyond the basic skills become bellringers for life.

For more information, please contact:

Mrs Patricia Newton

The White House

11 Plowden Park

Aston Rowant

Watlington

Oxon OX49 5SX

01844 352926

or email

To see photos of our bell-ringers and their bells click here

All Saints Parish Office