JANUARY 1st 2000 Millennum Ringing
The Bells were rung by:-Thomas Ellis (1), Robyn Vardey (2),
Bianca Valentine (3), Chris McTernan (4), Jessica Stevenson (5),
Tony Munford (6), Reg Margetts (7), Ralph Beaumont (8).
Matthew Dennis and Nick Johnson also rang at this time.
All the bells bear inscriptions as follows:- Nos 3 & 4 BELLS :- THE MARKS OF JOHN DANYEL, BELLFOUNDER OF LONDON CIRA 1486 No 3 BELL INSCRIPTION :- "SANCTE PETRE ORA PRO NOBIS".TRANSLATION :- "St PETER PRAY FOR US". No 4 BELL INSCRIPTION :- "-I-VOX AUGUSTINI SONET IN AURA DEI"
TRANSLATION :- "LET THE VOICE OF AUGUSTINE RING OUT IN GOD`S AIR". These are pre-reformation bells. History Notes:- HENRY VIII 1491 - 1547 ~(Reformation)
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 1451 - 1519
WAR OF THE ROSES 1455 -1485
Did these bells ring to warn of the approaching ARMADA 1588 (120YRS LATER) No 5 BELL CIRC 1636 INSCRIPTION :- "GOD SAVE OUR.........WB G.P. 1636" Cast during the time of CROMWELL 1599 -1663 (CIVIL WAR) and before the BLACK DEATH (1665) The remaining bells all carry the following common inscription:- "The Gift of Martha White of Morthen to the Honour & Glory of God 22 July 1915". Also the marks of John Taylor, Bellfounder of Loughborough. In addition all bells bear individual inscriptions:- No 1 "For God and King I Ring"
No 2 "Ring out the False Ring in the Truth"
No 6 "Fear God , Honour the King"
No 7 "Good will Toward Men. Andrew Merryweather and John William Hardwick Churchwardens."
No 8 "Glory to God in the Highest Augustus George Alton Rector."
The Tenor bell (No8) Weighs :-14cwt 1st 22 lbs and is tuned in F When the Passing Bell was rung in Whiston they ended with 9 strokes for a man , 7 for a women,and 5 for a child. The present peal of bells is hung on an iron bell frame built into the tower walls.
Prior to 1915 the three old bells had been supported on a wooden frame which was not built into the actual stonework of the tower but stood on the four great oak posts which still remain in their original position in each corner of the tower.
With confidence these posts may be dated as early as the 15th cent.or probably earlier. They are something of a rarity the only other examples of this kind of structure which appear to have been recorded are in Welsh Towers. Back to the Home Page