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Bellringing at St. Mary's
Church, Felmersham |
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Introduction
Bellringing is a team activity which stimulates the brain, keeps you fit and
produces a glorious sound. Some do it as their contribution to church life,
while many do it for just pleasure and company. Being part of the bell
ringing group does not require church service attendance - many ringers do
not worship at the church. Ringers of all ages and abilities are welcome to
take part in this traditional and rewarding activity. Why should one learn
to ring? Here are just a few reasons:
Maintain a traditional skill
Lifelong learning experience
Stimulates the brain - a good mental challenge
Perform a service to the church
Team activity
Make friends
Provides an opportunity to visit interesting churches and places |
Weekly Routine
Rather than having a weekly practice at Felmersham, we now combine to hold a
Benefice bellringers' practice. This is normally held at St. Peter's church,
Sharnbrook, on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 - 9.00. We ring at Felmersham for the
weekly morning service on Sunday mornings from 10.30 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. and
occasionally for weddings. Most of our Felmersham ringers are members of the
Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers which holds regular meetings. |
Contact
Mike Benson is the tower captain at St. Mary's, Felmersham and enquiries about
visiting to ring should in the first place be directed to Mike. He can be
contacted on (01234) 781649 or by email to:
mail@mikebenson08.plus.com
Rosemary Drewery who lives in Felmersham is the Safeguarding Representative for
the benefice and can be contacted at:
Rosemary@madewithlovinghands.com
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The Bells
Prior to 1951 there was only a ring of five bells in the tower. The two
oldest bells were made by the Bedford bell founder Edward Newcombe, and both
are inscribed Newcome made mee 1617.
Hugh Watts, of Leicester, made the treble in 1634 and it is known as a
Watt’s Nazarenes bell because of the inscription IHS Nazarenvs Rex Judorvm
fili dei Misereri Mei 1634. (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, Son of
God, have mercy on me).
The tenor and the third were cast in the C18 by the St Neots bell founder
Joseph Eayre and these are both inscribed John Hutchinson, Vicar, William
Bithrey, Robert Lord, Church Wardens, Joseph Eayers St. Neots, Fecit 1766.
Weighing 20cwt 2quarters 18lbs (1052 kgms) the tenor is the heaviest bell
and bears the additional inscription Cum voco venite (Come at my call). |
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In 1955, the original ring of five bells were re-tuned and augmented into a
ring of eight. The additional three bells were made by the Whitechapel Bell
Foundry and installed mainly at the expense of Sir Richard and Lady Wells, as a
memorial to their three sons who were killed in action during the 1939-45 war.
All eight bells were re-hung with new fittings and a new metal frame replaced
the old oak frame.
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Bell |
Note |
Weight
cwt. qrs. lbs. |
Maker |
Date |
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Tenor |
Eb |
20 - 2 - 18 |
Joseph Eayre - St Neots |
1766 |
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7th |
F |
14 - 2 - 19 |
Edward Newcombe - Bedford |
1617 |
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6th |
G |
11 - 2 - 2 |
Joseph Eayre - St Neots |
1766 |
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5th |
Ab |
8 - 1 - 19 |
Edward Newcombe - Bedford |
1617 |
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4th |
Bb |
8 - 2 - 3 |
Hugh Watts - Leicester |
1634 |
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3rd |
C |
6 - 2 - 27 |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1955 |
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2nd |
D |
6 - 0 - 14 |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1955 |
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Treble |
Eb |
5 - 2 - 10 |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1955 |
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