Langar
St Andrew

Bells

Langar Church originally had four large bells. They are well documented, and known to be as follows:

  Inscription Size Weight
1 I sweetly toling men do call to taste on meats that feeds the soole. 1611.
The mark of Henry Oldfield under the date.
  7.3.3
2 NON NOBIS DOMINE NON NOBIS SED NOMEN TUO AD GLORIAM.
John Wells Esquire 1636
  9.2.14
3 In noe ibu xpi ome genu flectat celestm trstrim et instorn 1601
(Mark of Henry Oldfield)
42.75" 13.3.3
4 Hec Campana Sacra Fiat Trinitate Beata. 1611
(This bell is like St Mary’s seventh - Stretton MS No 19, p90)
45.5" 15.2.15

The treble, 3rd and tenor were cast by Henry II Oldfield and the 3rd by George I, his son.

The original bells were recast and a fifth added. There is a sixth bell in the ringing chamber, a much smaller bell, not capable of being rung in the English Style, known as the Sanctus bell. The current ring is as follows:

  Inscription Size Weight
1 JOHN TAYLOR & Co FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1859 33.25" 7.0.17
2 J. TAYLOR AND Co FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1859 35.875" 8.1.5
3 J. TAYLOR AND Co FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1859 36.5" 8.1.3
4 JOHN TAYLOR & Co OF LOUGHBOROUGH FOUNDERS A:D 1859 39.125" 10.0.4
5 F

J. TAYLOR &Co OF LOUGHBOROUGH FOUNDERS 1859

T: BUTLER   RECTOR
IS: HALL
J: ARGYLE
  CHURCHWARDEN
41.5" 13.1.0
Sanctus Blank 12" 0.5cwt

Hung in a wooden frame for 5 bells, type Z, by Taylors in 1859, with cast-iron canon retaining headstocks and ball bearings by Taylors in 1939 when the frame was restored. The bells have decorated canons. These bells, replacing an old 4, were opened on 29th April 1859 by the Bingham Ringers. Other local teams from Hose and Colston Bassett were also present.

The main bells were rung from the nave and chancel floor level until 1969 when a higher floor was added up the tower. This is now accessed, along with the clock mechanism, from a spiral staircase, the door of which is on the north side of the church, in the angle of the north transept and the chancel.

A plaque in the ringing chamber is inscribed as follows:

To the glory of God this peal of five bells was
tuned, restored & rededicated, A.D. 1939.

John Kyle Chatfield. MA. LL.B, Rector

WM. HEROD HOWARTH
JOHN JAMES

Ringing the bells - New Year’s Eve 1946