Ruddington
St Peter

Bells

A north-west tower contains a ring of 8 bells plus a service bell.

Four of the bells came from the mother church at Flawford. There were brought to St Mary’s Chapel in Ruddington in 1718 and added to the single bell that was already there. The bells were initially hung in a two-tier frame, the two tenors being on the lower level, swinging east to west.

The old tenor
being removed
in 1969

A large tenor was added in 1763, making a ring of six.

A new two-tier composite cast iron A frame was provided by Taylors in 1897, and the ring was augmented from 6 to 8, with two treble bells being added. The subscribers included the Misses Paget and Philo Laos Mills Esq as acknowledged by the then vicar, Rev Frank Boykett: ‘2 bells [have been] added to complete the octave in commemoration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee.’ Physical details of this ring are as follows:

  Size Weight
1 27⅞" 4.3.18
2 28⅝" 5.0.5
3 29¾" 5.0.2
4 33¼" 6.1.5
5 34½" 6.2.1
6 37½" 9.1.1
7 42" 11.2.3

8 E

 45¼" 14.3.15

Of these, the 3rd (now the service bell) is the work of John de Stafford of Leicester c1350. The old 4th, 5th and 7th were the work of George (I) Oldfield, the 6th by the Mellours family, and the tenor by Thomas (I) Hedderly.

In 1935 the whole ring of eight bells was rehung and fitted with roller bearings, again by Taylors.

At the west end of the north aisle is a framed description of the bells compiled in 1958 by Ronald A Bartlem, a bellringer and later an alderman.

After problems with cracking in the tower the entire ring, with the exception of the third which became the service bell, was recast and hung afresh in a cast iron H frame with full modern fittings. The service bell was hung for swing chiming on its own fittings, including a wooden headstock, in the upper frame of the old A frame on wooden top and bottom cills. The original inscription band of the sixth bell was preserved in the village museum.

After recasting the bells were significantly smaller and lighter than before. Details of the current ring are as follows:

  Inscription Size Weight
1

To the Glory of God

These two bells were hung in 1897
in commemoration of the sixtieth year
of the reign of Her Majesty
Queen Victoria

RECAST 1969

 22½" 2.3.1
2

* Iohn Taylor and Co * Founders * Loughborough * 1897

RECAST 1969
IN MEMORY OF
JOSEPH WALTON HORSPOOL

23⅝" 3.0.10
3

* JOHN TAYLOR & CO * FOUNDER * LOUGHBOROUGH * 1969

THIS BELL CALLED ST. PETER
REPLACES THE OLD THIRD
RETAINED AS A PRIESTS BELL

25" 3.1.23
4

GOD SAVE THE CHVRCH 1652

RECAST 1969
IN MEMORY OF
JAMES HENRY STRETTON
VICARS WARDEN
1949-61

26⅜" 3.3.10
5

I sweetly toling men do call to taste on meats that feed the soule 1620

RECAST 1969

 28½" 4.1.20
6

Celorum xte placcat tibi rex sonus iste

RECAST 1969

 29¾" 4.2.24
7

ALL GLORY BEE TO GOD ON HIGH 1663

RECAST 1969

 32¾" 6.2.17
8 G#

MY SOUND IT IS TO EACH MAN TO CALL TO SERVE THE LORD BOTH GREAT AND SMALL

THOMAS HEDDERLY MADE ME IN 1763. THOMAS SARGENT CHURCHWARDEN

RECAST 1969

 37" 9.1.24

Service Bell

VOCOR SANCTE JOHANNES

 29¾" 5.0.2