BELFRY STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

Perhaps in keeping with the more reflective and low-key atmosphere of the times, there was not an obviously great stimulus to belfry activity by the fact that 2002 was a Royal Jubilee year. So far as the Committee is aware, only at one tower (Lockerley) has there been a strong association between a bell restoration project and the Jubilee. Not only was it designated as a Parish Jubilee commemoration, but the committee was asked by the BRF Trustees to act urgently to review both the proposed works prior to grant-award and the completed works prior to payment, so that the bells could be rededicated in time for ringing on the designated Jubilee days.

However, as the annual review of Belfry Restoration work within the Guild’s area indicates, there is still a steady and significant commitment of parish resources, time and diligence to maintaining and enhancing our bell stock across the two Diocese, but as our yearly record shows, the duration of these projects from plan to completion suggests that in this era at least, such ventures and more particularly their funding, are not the quickly planned and speedily accomplished achievements of bygone days. One only has to look at the records of the many new and restored bells associated with the Jubilees of the late Victorian era, (many brought to fruition in a few months through the financial largess of individual benefactors) to realise that times have changed!

In this restrained climate calls on the committee’s services have again been limited, and for a second year there has been no requirement for a formal meeting. In addition to the support provided to the BRF Trustees at Lockerley, informal advice was given to St Mary’s, Hound during the spring. Here the ancient parish church for the communities of Hound and Netley has three J(ohn) Higden bells of 1607 hung for swing chiming in a late 17th century oak four bell frame. For many years there has been a local understanding that they were “unsafe” to “ring”. Following an extended period of restoration the church is being brought back into more regular use and parish ringers from Netley Abbey were approached to look over the installation with a view to sounding the bells at weddings and other selected services. Other than the need for some extended steeple-keeping the prognosis appears positive!

Informal advice was also provided to ringers associated with two other towers (Brockenhurst and Bullington), which may lead to a request for a fuller inspections, or more formal works in due course.

The major piece of work involving Committee members took place at St Mary’s, Crawley. Two years ago the Committee led a local project to clean and repaint the gear and re-rope and re-pulley the five bells in support of the new local band. A crack in the crown of the third bell detected by Whitechapel Bell Foundry during 1998 has been monitored since, and by late 2001 had begun to extend rapidly. During October, Guild members lowered the bell so that it could be sent to Newmarket for welding. It is expected that Guild labour will also rehang the bell on its return.

During the autumn the BRF Trustees sought advice on how the Guild-wide Bell stock survey might be reinvigorated and extended. As a consequence Andrew Banks and John Davey came forward at the autumnal Guild Executive to offer support to rekindle progress in this work. Action to equip them with the necessary information and resources to progress this was in hand at the year end.

Following a request from the Council for the Care of Churches (Bells and Clocks Committee) through Mr George Dawson, the Convenor of the BSC reviewed the lists of bells and bell frames scheduled for preservation by the CCC within the two diocese. Suggestions for revisions of the lists were made and updated documents reurned during the Spring of 2002 . Subsequently formal revised lists for the Diocese of Winchester, as submitted to the CCC, were copied to the committee. We await confirmation that these revised listings have been adopted, and also for details of the progress of the listings for Portsmouth Diocese.

A request from the CCCBR Committee for Redundant Bells, seeking to audit the status of bells in Anglican churches declared redundant during the past 30 years, was responded to with details of relevant bells and installations within the two diocese as appropriate, so far as details are known. The completed work was due to be returned to CfRB early in 2003.

I again express my thanks to the other members of the committee for their quiet but diligent work in continuing to promote good practice in the care and maintenance of our bells through informal advice and encouragement via normal ringing contacts.

Phil Watts