The Grand Tour!
The
Ringers Guide describes All Saints’ tower as “ten hundredweight
(cwt.) six in G.” The Tenor, the heaviest of the 6 bells weighs
10 cwt. and is tuned to the note of G, with the remaining 5 bells
being tuned to form part of an ascending G Major scale. Prior
to 1867 when the tower was restored, All Saints’ had only 5 bells
which were rung from the ground floor, and this had been the case
for some 230 years. In 1867 a floor was added to form what is now
the ringing chamber. Access to the chamber was by ladder and a trap
door is still evident in the corner of the ceiling over the door
to the present staircase. The spiral staircase and its associated
buttresses were added in 1884 primarily to support this side of the
tower due to faltering foundations. 1884 also saw the addition of
the 6th bell - the treble. The
bells were re-hung in 1929 with new fittings, and this is likely
to be when the present wooden bell frame dates from. This
is where the bells are rung. The walls are decorated with Peal Boards
which record peals rung by the local band. A peal consists of 5040
changes in ringing sequence and takes about 2¾ hours to complete.
This is a significant achievement for a ringer. As
mentioned, the treble (which has the highest pitch) was added in
1884. However, there was a delay of 38 years before all 6 were rung
for a peal for the first time in 1922. There is a photo of the successful
ringers taken after the event. The last peal recorded on a peal board
was rung by the Springfield Company of Ringers in 1937. The
band is now known as the Springfield Guild of Bell Ringers, and has
been active since 1982. Its aims are to ring for main services, special
church occasions or ones of local or national importance. The bells
are also rung on request for some 40 weddings each year. Access
to the bells and the top of the tower is by ladder. On our way
up we pass a floor which houses the clock, built in 1832 and fully
clockwork. It needs winding once a week. The belfry is relatively
spacious with enough room for 2 more bells. The bells are arranged
in pairs which swing in different directions, and the bells of
each pair rotate in opposite directions to minimize forces acting
on the tower. Bells 1,2,5, and 6 are set north-south, and 3 and
4 are set east-west The
5th is the oldest, cast by Miles Gray in Colchester during 1630.
Gray cast over 100 bells between 1600 and 1649, and interestingly,
on this bell, the last digit of the date has been cast backwards! The
3rd,
cast in 1683, is the second oldest. Interestingly, it was not cast
by the founder whose name appears on the bell. The inscription
reads "John Hodgson made me 1683" followed by a series of copper
coins and the letter "W" It is this initial which identifies the
founder as William Witmore, a travelling founder who would have
made the bells close to where they were to be hung. Bells 2 and 4 were cast in 1736 and 1760
respectively by Thomas Gardner of Sudbury, and the 6 by Pack and
Chapman of Whitechapel. The 6 only lasted for 100 years before it
was recast in 1867 by John Warner & Son. This is the largest
bell with a diameter of 39 inches. In contrast, the treble (also
cast by John Warner) has a diameter of only 28 inches. Around its
waist is the inscription "Joy and gladness, thanksgiving, and the
voice of melody" Back down to the Church floor...
