Gringley on the Hill
St Peter and St Paul

Bells

The church originally possessed four bells, which were supplemented by two further bells in 2001, creating a new treble and a new second. The bells are as follows:

  Inscription Size Weight Dated Founder
1   29.50" 5-0-11 1924 Mears & Stainbank
2 Given in memory of Paul David Andrews 1982-2000 29.88" 4-3-16 1867 John Warner & Sons
3

IESUS BE OUR SPEDE

33ʺ 7-0-4 c1590 By Henry Dand, who appears to have been a foreman founder working for both Henry I and Henry II Oldfield. He had a long working period, from before 1558 when he was Sheriff of Nottingham, to after 1598.
4

S S S

[i.e. ‘Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus]

 

34.25ʺ 7-1-10 c1520 Richard Mellours or possibly Robert Quernbie who succeeded Robert Mellours
5

IESUS BE OUR SPEDE 1655 WG

37.13ʺ 9-1-23 1655 Probably by William Guerdon or William II Oldfield of Doncaster
6

IESUS BE OUR SPEDE

42.75ʺ 14-3-20 c1590 Also by Henry Dand
Cast iron low-sided
bellframe
Old wooden frame


The bells are hung in a cast-iron low-sided frame for 6 bells made by Fred Pembleton of Glapwell in 1988, with cast-iron canon-retaining headstocks and ball bearings. The frame is lower in the tower than the old wooden frame (Elphick type V) which apparently dates from the eighteenth century. Prior to the rehanging, they had been rehung by Whites of Appleton earlier in the twentieth century. Until 1988 they were in a minor key, but careful retuning brought them into F#.

In 2001 the original peal of four was augmented to six using two redundant bells, creating a new treble, cast by Mears and Stainbank of London in 1924, and a new second, cast by John Warner of London in 1867. These were hung by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd of Loughborough. The 1867 bell was donated by Peter and Linda Andrews in memory of their son, who was tragically killed in a traffic accident.

Minta quotes the Revd Wilson’s accounts for 1705, in which 13s was paid for ‘Bell Brass and Bell wheel mending’.