Copthorne, St John the Evangelist
1919 - Present
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
2-1-9 cwt |
22.00" |
1626.5 Hz |
G# |
1919 |
Hung Dead |
||
2 |
3-0-21 cwt |
24.00" |
1468 Hz |
F# |
1919 |
Hung Dead |
||
3 |
3-1-2 cwt |
25.43" |
1304.5 Hz |
E |
1919 |
Hung Dead |
||
4 |
3-3-16 cwt |
27.00" |
1224 Hz |
D# |
1919 |
Hung Dead |
||
5 |
4-3-22 cwt |
29.50" |
1100 Hz |
C# |
1919 |
Hung Dead |
||
6 |
6-3-13 cwt |
33.00" |
976 Hz |
B |
1919 |
Hung Dead |
1877 - 1919
Bell |
Weight |
Founder |
Date |
1 |
9-2-15 cwt |
1877 |
About the Bells
6 Bells, 6-3-13 in B
Copthorne has a chime of 6 bells, hung in a west-facing tower.
The tower was built in 1877 to Habershon & Brock’s design.
In 1877, Mears & Stainbank supplied a single bell, weighing 9-2-15cwt complete with frame a fittings.
An invoice dated June 19th 1877 reads:
“To a 10cwt Bell, with Frame fittings & hanging as of - estimate May 2nd 1877. ~ Carriage of Box up.”
The cost of which came to £120 3s.
Sadly, this bell hasn’t survived, nor is there any information of where it went. The inscription wasn't recorded but likely read.
MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON 1877
It was cast with a conventional canon, and was probably hung in a timber Z or B frame.
To commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, a clock was ordered from John Hoch, London. It is a dual train clock which suggests that the bell had a clock hammer fitted at this time.
In 1919, Gillett & Johnston cast a chime of six Simpson tuned bells made from new metal, as a war memorial. Inside the main body of the church is a large plaque, dedicated to the fallen soldiers of Copthorne. The bells are beautifully tuned to the key of B. They were all cast without canons, and bolted to steel girders.
Bells 1,2,6 are hung below, and 3,4,5 are above. All but the tenor are chimed by Ellacombe hammers connected to a Baton Clavier. The tenor however is chimed using the clock hammer, similar to Ifield, St Margaret.
Each of them are inscribed with:
CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919
around the inscription band; Fig. CFJ,2 around the crown; CFJ,1 below the inscription band; ACJ,2 at the bottom of the waist; and CFJ,3 around the soundbow.
The tenor has the addition of
WAR MEMORIAL / 1914 - 1919
on the waist.
Each bell has its corresponding number inscribed too.
The bells are chimed from the ground floor. A vertical ladder takes you up to the clock room, and another ladder takes you up further to the belfry. The first bell you come to is the 2nd. They're tightly packed in so was difficult to get a decent picture of all the bells.
On the N & E side of the tower, a clock dial with gold roman numerals is present.
Visited: 04/06/2022
Copthorne has a chime of 6 bells, hung in a west-facing tower.
The tower was built in 1877 to Habershon & Brock’s design.
In 1877, Mears & Stainbank supplied a single bell, weighing 9-2-15cwt complete with frame a fittings.
An invoice dated June 19th 1877 reads:
“To a 10cwt Bell, with Frame fittings & hanging as of - estimate May 2nd 1877. ~ Carriage of Box up.”
The cost of which came to £120 3s.
Sadly, this bell hasn’t survived, nor is there any information of where it went. The inscription wasn't recorded but likely read.
MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON 1877
It was cast with a conventional canon, and was probably hung in a timber Z or B frame.
To commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, a clock was ordered from John Hoch, London. It is a dual train clock which suggests that the bell had a clock hammer fitted at this time.
In 1919, Gillett & Johnston cast a chime of six Simpson tuned bells made from new metal, as a war memorial. Inside the main body of the church is a large plaque, dedicated to the fallen soldiers of Copthorne. The bells are beautifully tuned to the key of B. They were all cast without canons, and bolted to steel girders.
Bells 1,2,6 are hung below, and 3,4,5 are above. All but the tenor are chimed by Ellacombe hammers connected to a Baton Clavier. The tenor however is chimed using the clock hammer, similar to Ifield, St Margaret.
Each of them are inscribed with:
CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919
around the inscription band; Fig. CFJ,2 around the crown; CFJ,1 below the inscription band; ACJ,2 at the bottom of the waist; and CFJ,3 around the soundbow.
The tenor has the addition of
WAR MEMORIAL / 1914 - 1919
on the waist.
Each bell has its corresponding number inscribed too.
The bells are chimed from the ground floor. A vertical ladder takes you up to the clock room, and another ladder takes you up further to the belfry. The first bell you come to is the 2nd. They're tightly packed in so was difficult to get a decent picture of all the bells.
On the N & E side of the tower, a clock dial with gold roman numerals is present.
Visited: 04/06/2022
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 - 407Hz - Ab-34
Prime - 809.5Hz - Ab-44
Tierce - 979.5Hz - B-14 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1220.5Hz - Eb-33
Nominal - 1626.5Hz - Ab-36
Prime - 809.5Hz - Ab-44
Tierce - 979.5Hz - B-14 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1220.5Hz - Eb-33
Nominal - 1626.5Hz - Ab-36
| copthorneone.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 367.5Hz - F# -11
Prime - 732.5Hz - F# -17
Tierce - 882Hz - A+4 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1099.5Hz - Db-13
Nominal - 1468Hz - F# -13
Prime - 732.5Hz - F# -17
Tierce - 882Hz - A+4 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1099.5Hz - Db-13
Nominal - 1468Hz - F# -13
| copthornetwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 325.5Hz - E-21
Prime - 649.5Hz - E-25
Tierce - 785Hz - G+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 979Hz - B-14
Nominal - 1304.5Hz - E-17
Prime - 649.5Hz - E-25
Tierce - 785Hz - G+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 979Hz - B-14
Nominal - 1304.5Hz - E-17
| copthornethree.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 305Hz - Eb-33
Prime - 610Hz - Eb-33
Tierce - 735Hz - F# -11 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 918.5Hz - Bb-25
Nominal - 1224Hz - Eb-28
Prime - 610Hz - Eb-33
Tierce - 735Hz - F# -11 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 918.5Hz - Bb-25
Nominal - 1224Hz - Eb-28
| copthornefour.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 276Hz - Db-6
Prime - 549Hz - Db-16
Tierce - 662Hz - E+7 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 820.5Hz - Ab-20
Nominal - 1100Hz - Db-13
Prime - 549Hz - Db-16
Tierce - 662Hz - E+7 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 820.5Hz - Ab-20
Nominal - 1100Hz - Db-13
| copthornefive.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 245Hz - B-13
Prime - 489.5Hz - B-14
Tierce - 590.5Hz - D+9 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 731Hz - F# -20
Nominal - 976Hz - B-20
Prime - 489.5Hz - B-14
Tierce - 590.5Hz - D+9 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 731Hz - F# -20
Nominal - 976Hz - B-20
| copthornesix.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1 |
±±±±±±±±±±±± CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919 ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ 1 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
2 |
±±±±±±±±±±±± CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919 ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ 2 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
3 |
±±±±±±±±±±±± CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919 ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ 3 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
4 |
±±±±±±±±±±±± CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919 ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ 4 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
5 |
±±±±±±±±±±±± CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919 ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ 5 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
6 |
±±±±±±±±±±±± CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919 ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1919 6 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
⚜ = Fig. ACJ, 2 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
⛫ = Fig. CFJ, 1 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
± = Fig. CFJ, 2 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
₼ = Fig. CFJ, 3 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
*Click on images to enlarge them*
⛫ = Fig. CFJ, 1 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
± = Fig. CFJ, 2 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
₼ = Fig. CFJ, 3 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6)
*Click on images to enlarge them*
A wooden plaque inside reads the inscription:
"THE PEAL OF BELLS WAS PRESENTED IN COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTORY GIVEN TO THIS COUNTRY AND ITS ALLIES IN THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 - 1919 AND AS A MEMORIALOF THOSE WHO FELL WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED IN THE CHURCH THANKS BE TO GOD WHO GIVETH US THE VICTORY" |
A brass clock on the same wall reads:
COPTHORNE CHURCH CLOCK Installed 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Refurbished and automated in 2012 in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee funded by public subscription and a grant from Mid Sussex District Council This plaque was unveiled by the Chairman, Councillor Mandy Thomas-Atkin 18 November 2012 |
Photographs:
Sources:
.https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/copthorne-st-john/
.Church achieves
.https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/copthorne-st-john/
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