History of the Bells

Most of the mediaeval church was lost in the rebuild by Preedy in 1860-61, however he left the tower alone. It dates from the 15th century and has probably always containted bells of some sort. Thre is no record of the number of bells in 1552, but there seem to have been 5 bells by the late 17th century. It is possible that these bells were cast by Bagleys of Chacomble as their records list five bells for 'Offingham' in Worcestershire. It may be that the present 4th is a survivor from this ring.
In 1829 the churchwardens obtained an estimate for recasting the cracked tenor bell. John Rudhall of Gloucester cast the new tenor in 1830 and in was installed in the tower in late June 1830.
In 1865-66 the bells were tuned and rehung in a new wooden frame by Henry Bond of Burford and the tower was repointed at the same time. Further work was carried out in 1897 when the bells were augmented from five to six. The old treble was exchanged for a new bell by John Taylor of Loughborough, and the second was replaced by 'reject' from the bells cast for Brewood, Staffs in 1896. The work was completed on 26th November 1897 and the Bell News of 15th January 1898 reported that the first change ringing took place on 5th December. The first full peal on the bells took place on Sunday 30th April 1899 by the St Peter's Society, Bengeworth for the Worcestershire & Districts Association.
By 1924 the bell frame and fittings were in poor condition and a report was prepared on behalf of the Worcestersire & Districts Change Ringing Association by two eminent local ringers , C A Binyon of Badsey and James Hemming of Hampton. They presented their report to the PCC on 6th November 1924 in which they explained that conditions were so bad that 'it has only been by the exercise of considerable ingenuity that any ringing is now possible' and recommended that the bells be rehung in a steel frame with new fittings. In December 1924 the PCC accepted a tender from John Taylor of Loughborough of £320.0.0d to provide new wheels, metal headstocks and gudgeons, ball bearings, wrought iron clappers with crown staples, new stays, ropes and rope rollers and hang the bells in a new cast iron frame on steel girders. The bells were to be sand blasted, turned and tuned. A bell fund was started and by February 1925 over half the amount had been raised. A price reduction of £16.0.0d was achieved by reusing the fittings on the treble and keeping the existing ropes. The work was completed and the bells were rededicated on 3rd October 1925, after which a full peal was rung, the footnote reading " First peal on the bells since recent rehanging by Messrs. John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, the 'go' being all that can be desired".
(Information compiled by Chris Pickford and Tony Brazier)
In 1829 the churchwardens obtained an estimate for recasting the cracked tenor bell. John Rudhall of Gloucester cast the new tenor in 1830 and in was installed in the tower in late June 1830.
In 1865-66 the bells were tuned and rehung in a new wooden frame by Henry Bond of Burford and the tower was repointed at the same time. Further work was carried out in 1897 when the bells were augmented from five to six. The old treble was exchanged for a new bell by John Taylor of Loughborough, and the second was replaced by 'reject' from the bells cast for Brewood, Staffs in 1896. The work was completed on 26th November 1897 and the Bell News of 15th January 1898 reported that the first change ringing took place on 5th December. The first full peal on the bells took place on Sunday 30th April 1899 by the St Peter's Society, Bengeworth for the Worcestershire & Districts Association.
By 1924 the bell frame and fittings were in poor condition and a report was prepared on behalf of the Worcestersire & Districts Change Ringing Association by two eminent local ringers , C A Binyon of Badsey and James Hemming of Hampton. They presented their report to the PCC on 6th November 1924 in which they explained that conditions were so bad that 'it has only been by the exercise of considerable ingenuity that any ringing is now possible' and recommended that the bells be rehung in a steel frame with new fittings. In December 1924 the PCC accepted a tender from John Taylor of Loughborough of £320.0.0d to provide new wheels, metal headstocks and gudgeons, ball bearings, wrought iron clappers with crown staples, new stays, ropes and rope rollers and hang the bells in a new cast iron frame on steel girders. The bells were to be sand blasted, turned and tuned. A bell fund was started and by February 1925 over half the amount had been raised. A price reduction of £16.0.0d was achieved by reusing the fittings on the treble and keeping the existing ropes. The work was completed and the bells were rededicated on 3rd October 1925, after which a full peal was rung, the footnote reading " First peal on the bells since recent rehanging by Messrs. John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, the 'go' being all that can be desired".
(Information compiled by Chris Pickford and Tony Brazier)