Chidham, St Mary
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
1-1-11 cwt |
18.75" |
1744.5 Hz |
A |
1864 |
Swing Chime |
||
2 |
1-1-27 cwt |
19.75" |
1550 Hz |
G |
1864 |
Swing Chime |
About the Bell
2 Bells, 1-1-27 in G
Chidham has a chime of 2 bells, hung in a west-facing bellcote.
The church dates back to the 13th century when it had no more than a chancel and a nave.
Originally it had a tall boarded belfry at the west end with a cap. Below this, it had a doorway and a window that came from Iping church in 1885. Both of which have been removed and bricked up.
In 1864, the entire roof including the belfry were replaced, and the present A frame for 2 was installed.
The earliest reference to bells we have dates back to 1581, when John Wallis cast a bell.
It bore the simple inscription
I W 1581
Five years later, he cast another bell for the church with a longer inscription:
I LIVE IN HOPE I W 1586
The 17th century provides a few good entries in church surveys and presentments.
Unfortunately, all of these ranging from 1602 - 1636 show the belfry was in need of restoration. Another bell was cast too.
1602: "The Churche wanteth pavinge the seats planckinge and the belfry plackinge . . . The steeple to be new builded and the porch"
1610: "The church and steeple in decay and so is the church porch"
1625:"We present that our steeple is in some decay for lack of boarding, which presently shalbe admended, as soone as we can get the boards home which we have bought for the same purpose."
1636: "The steeple wantes to be new boarded. . . The steeple is like to fall down"
The work may have been completed 2 years later, as John Higden, with Robert Beconsall cast a tenor.
IG IH RB 1638
As shown at Funtington 6 years earlier, Higden was also working along side William Wakefield.
These bells survived until 1864 when the tower was taken down and replaced with a plain, Victorian bellcote.
There is no record of what happened to the bells, but John Warner & Sons, Cripplegate supplied 2 bells for swing chiming.
Apart from the foundry name and date around the inscription band, each have a line from the Lord's prayer in Latin on the waist.
The treble measures 18.75" in diameter, and the tenor an inch larger.
In 1998, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry rehung the bells on new headstocks, bearings, levers, ropes, and other fittings.
Through binoculars, the initials MB, W, NS, 1971 can be seen on the tenor's headstock. The bells were also tuned by giving them a true octave hum. Tuning marks on the soundbow and waist show were the nominal and hum were flattened.
They are now a tone apart (A & G).
The bells are chimed from the ground floor by red sallied ropes. On inspection, the rope for the tenor was broken just above the sally. Apart from that, the bells are in great condition.
A 25 & 35 rung ladders are required to reach them.
Visited: 17/02/2024
Chidham has a chime of 2 bells, hung in a west-facing bellcote.
The church dates back to the 13th century when it had no more than a chancel and a nave.
Originally it had a tall boarded belfry at the west end with a cap. Below this, it had a doorway and a window that came from Iping church in 1885. Both of which have been removed and bricked up.
In 1864, the entire roof including the belfry were replaced, and the present A frame for 2 was installed.
The earliest reference to bells we have dates back to 1581, when John Wallis cast a bell.
It bore the simple inscription
I W 1581
Five years later, he cast another bell for the church with a longer inscription:
I LIVE IN HOPE I W 1586
The 17th century provides a few good entries in church surveys and presentments.
Unfortunately, all of these ranging from 1602 - 1636 show the belfry was in need of restoration. Another bell was cast too.
1602: "The Churche wanteth pavinge the seats planckinge and the belfry plackinge . . . The steeple to be new builded and the porch"
1610: "The church and steeple in decay and so is the church porch"
1625:"We present that our steeple is in some decay for lack of boarding, which presently shalbe admended, as soone as we can get the boards home which we have bought for the same purpose."
1636: "The steeple wantes to be new boarded. . . The steeple is like to fall down"
The work may have been completed 2 years later, as John Higden, with Robert Beconsall cast a tenor.
IG IH RB 1638
As shown at Funtington 6 years earlier, Higden was also working along side William Wakefield.
These bells survived until 1864 when the tower was taken down and replaced with a plain, Victorian bellcote.
There is no record of what happened to the bells, but John Warner & Sons, Cripplegate supplied 2 bells for swing chiming.
Apart from the foundry name and date around the inscription band, each have a line from the Lord's prayer in Latin on the waist.
- Thy Kingdom come.
- Hallowed by thy name.
The treble measures 18.75" in diameter, and the tenor an inch larger.
In 1998, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry rehung the bells on new headstocks, bearings, levers, ropes, and other fittings.
Through binoculars, the initials MB, W, NS, 1971 can be seen on the tenor's headstock. The bells were also tuned by giving them a true octave hum. Tuning marks on the soundbow and waist show were the nominal and hum were flattened.
They are now a tone apart (A & G).
The bells are chimed from the ground floor by red sallied ropes. On inspection, the rope for the tenor was broken just above the sally. Apart from that, the bells are in great condition.
A 25 & 35 rung ladders are required to reach them.
Visited: 17/02/2024
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominal, using Simpson's theory.
Key [measured in cents]:
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Bell 1
Hum - 435Hz - A-19
Prime - 781Hz - G-6
Tierce - 1031Hz - C-25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1264Hz - Eb+27
Nominal - 1744.5Hz - A-14
Prime - 781Hz - G-6
Tierce - 1031Hz - C-25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1264Hz - Eb+27
Nominal - 1744.5Hz - A-14
| chidhamone.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 387Hz - G-21
Prime - 741.5Hz - F#+4
Tierce - 917.5Hz - Bb-27 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1135.5Hz - Db+41
Nominal - 1550Hz - G-19
Prime - 741.5Hz - F#+4
Tierce - 917.5Hz - Bb-27 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1135.5Hz - Db+41
Nominal - 1550Hz - G-19
| chidhamtwo.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1864 - Present
1 |
J WARNER & SONS LONDON 1864 ADVENIAT REGNUM TUUM |
2 |
J. WARNER & SONS LONDON 1864 SANCTIFICETVR x NOMEN x TUUM |
Prior to 1864
1 |
I LIVE IN HOPE IW 1586 |
2 |
IW 1581 |
3 |
IG IH RB 1638 |
Latin Translations:
1: ADVENIAT REGNUM TUUM - Thy Kingdom come.
2: SANCTIFICETVR NOMEN TUUM - Hallowed be thy name.
Abbreviations:
IW: John Wallis
IH: John Higden
RB: Robert Beconsall
1: ADVENIAT REGNUM TUUM - Thy Kingdom come.
2: SANCTIFICETVR NOMEN TUUM - Hallowed be thy name.
Abbreviations:
IW: John Wallis
IH: John Higden
RB: Robert Beconsall
Photographs:
Sources:
.Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724 by Wyn K. Ford
.Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P. Elphick
.The Church Bells of Sussex by Amhurst D. Tyssen
. Notes on Sussex Churches by Harrison
.Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724 by Wyn K. Ford
.Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P. Elphick
.The Church Bells of Sussex by Amhurst D. Tyssen
. Notes on Sussex Churches by Harrison
