Wonersh Bells & Bellringing
St John the Baptist

BibleGateway.com - Exodus 28:35;
……The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD
and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

 Sound icon Click the link to listen to our 8 bells or another of 6 bells

 The peal of eight bells were cast in 1958 by Mears Whitechapel bellfoundry in London.  They are a very fine, tuneful and easy-to-ring peal with a tenor of 11½ cwt.  Before 1958 there were six bells, five cast by Richard Phelps (at Whitechapel) in 1727 and the sixth a gift of the 2nd Lord Grantley in 1804 bore the inscription “Thomas Mears of London fecit 1804. The gift of the Rt Hon. Lord Grantley”. The earliest record of bells in the tower is in 1552 when there were three bells, with a tenor of 16cwt plus a sacring or sanctus bell. These were no doubt confiscated by the Crown at the time of the reformation, except for one bell for future use. The first two stages of the tower date from the thirteenth century and its height was raised in 1751 when a third tier was added, but some of the thirteenth century spire beams were reused and remain as part of the roof today.  Before 1751 the bells were rung from the ground floor and grooves made by the bell ropes are still clearly visible in the arch between the tower and the Lady Chapel.  The present ringing chamber in the tower was created in the 1901 reordering. 

 For those who like details, the dimensions and inscriptions of the current bells are-: 

Bell

Diameter

Note

Weight
Cwt-qtrs-lbs

Inscription

 

 

 

 

 

Tenor

3'-4"

G

11-2-25

Messeiures Henry Denyer James Weale Churchwardens R Phelps made me 1727. Recast 1958 Mears London. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens

7th

3'-0"

A

8-2-17

R Phelps Fecit 1727. Mears London Recast 1958. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens

6th

2’-8 7/8”

B

6-2-27

R Phelps Fecit 1727. Mears London Recast 1958. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens

5th

2’-6 7/8”

C

5-2-9

R Phelps Fecit 1727. Mears London Recast 1958. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens

4th

2’-4 7/8”

D

4-3-18

R Phelps Fecit 1727. Mears London Recast 1958. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens

3rd

2’-2 7/8”

E

4-0-24

Mears of London Fecit.  A Gift of the Rt Honourable Lord Grantley. Mears London Recast 1958. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens

2nd

2’-1 ¼”

F#

3-2-17

Mears & Stainbank made me 1958. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens.  Mears London

Treble

2'-0 1/8"

G

3-2-4

Given in 1958 by the band of ringers of Wonersh Church tower under their captain Mr W Enticknap in memory of all past ringers of Wonersh Church. The Rev Hugh G.B.Anthony Vicar. Mr W G Brett & Mr P M Rees Churchwardens.  Mears London

 

 

 Wonersh bells 458

 Wonersh bells 45

 Bells 4, 5 and 8  

 Bells 4 and 5 from above.  

  Unfortunately the hanging of the bells was not as good as the casting and tuning of them. The heaviest six bells are well hung and are easy to ring well but the two lightest bells present problems for all except the most experienced bellringers. For many years the front two bells were rung very rarely which meant that the parish did not enjoy the wonderful sound of the full octave of bells. Today we have eight experienced local ringers and you often hear all eight bells rung for services and weddings.

 Bellringers                                                   
Bellringers come in all sizes and ages. Our most senior ringer, Gay Enticknap, was taught to ring by his father Walter (see plaque in church!) at the age of 10 when the war time ban on bell ringing was lifted in 1943. Our youngest ringer is still at school. Ringers from other local towers are valuable regular supporters of our Thursday night practices, enabling us to progress, learning some new methods and improving our standard of ringing. We do have fun ringing together too!

 Ringers from Worplesdon, Albury and Cranleigh have been valuable regular supporters of our Thursday night practices throughout the year, enabling us to progress, learning some new methods and improving our standard of ringing.  

  We have recently purchased and installed a new set of bell ropes which  have replaced the ropes that were installed about 20 years ago.  They had done good service during those years, outlasting at least four incumbents and many more churchwardens, though the ropes all had new top ends spliced in and many also had new tail ends.  Perhaps we should do the same for vicars and churchwardens to increase their longevity?! 

 

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the casting and installation of our bells we rang a full peal of 5040 changes on 26 April 2008, in just under three hours of continuous ringing. The first full peal on the bells was rung in 1965 and we rang the same method for the golden anniversary peal. Both peals are now recorded in peal boards hanging in the ringing chamber. The mathematically-minded reader will understand the significance of the 5040 changes needed for a full peal..  We ring every permutation of the front seven bells with the heaviest bell ringing at the back of every change to set a good steady beat. If you remember your school mathematics the number of different permutations of seven bells is 7x6x5x4x3x2x1=5040.  
  

Bellringing is fun, challenging and rewarding as well as bringing pleasure to lots of people who hear the bells across the parish and are reminded thereby of the presence and outreach of the church across the village.

We always welcome new ringers. If you would you like to learn the ancient and very English craft of bellringing, we are willing to teach you, provided you are willing so commit your time to regular practices and Sunday ringing. Basic requirements are:-

  o age over 10 years

  o at least five feet tall
  o alert in mind and with a good sense of rhythm
  o able in body (though no great strength is needed)

 If you are interested contact Stephen Darvill (01483 894606 or stephen.darvill@btinternet.com) or come to any Wednesday practice night at 8pm to learn more.  

 

clipart mouse   Guildford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers