Crawley, St John the Baptist
1880 - Present
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 Glory (394) |
4-1-25 cwt |
27.25" |
1328 Hz |
E |
1880 |
Full Circle |
||
2 Honour (395) |
4-2-7 cwt |
28.00" |
1238.5 Hz |
D# |
1880 |
Full Circle |
||
3 Praise |
4-2-25 cwt |
29.00" |
1096.5 Hz |
C# |
1931 |
Full Circle |
||
4 Thanksgiving (392) |
5-1-24 cwt |
31.00" |
985 Hz |
B |
1880 |
Full Circle |
||
5 Joy (386) |
6-2-21 cwt |
34.00" |
879.5 Hz |
A |
1880 |
Full Circle |
||
6 Brotherly Love (405) |
7-3-0 cwt |
36.00" |
828.5 Hz |
G# |
1880 |
Full Circle |
||
7 Worship (385) |
9-2-18 cwt |
39.00" |
737 Hz |
F# |
1880 |
Full Circle |
||
8 Praise (338) |
13-2-26 cwt |
44.00" |
655.5 Hz |
E |
1880 |
Full Circle |
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
Old 3rd (393) |
4-2-7 cwt |
29.00" |
C# |
1880 |
Full Circle |
1742 - 1880
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
Old 1 |
3-3-15 cwt |
1742 |
Swing Chime? |
|||||
Old 2 |
6-0-11 cwt |
1742 |
Swing Chime? |
About the Bells
8 Bells, 13-2-26 in E
The Octave ring of bells at Crawley are hung in a west facing tower in the heart of the town.
The 8 bells sit in a timber 8.3 Z trussed frame made by Gillett, Bland & Co.
The tower had 4 bells to begin with. These could have either been cast by a member of the Eldridge family or a London founder as the tower was 15th century.
In 1724, it was reported that: "4 bells, but onely one in order, 3 being crackt." Later in 1742, Thomas Lester of London recast the bells into a ring of 2. See below for the inscriptions. These bells became cracked, presumably due to cast-in crown staples. In 1880, Gillett, Bland & Co cast a peal of 8 bells. There are inscriptions on bells 2,6,7,8 that state who donated them, however, the cost for the other bells were likely raised by public subscriptions. The bells were cast around June and were finally hung on October 6th, 1880
They added an Ellacombe apparatus to allow one person to ring all bells when there weren't enough ringers. Furthermore, a Seage's silent apparatus was installed so that the bells could be practiced in silence.
The Seage's Apparatus which was used extensively from 1880 by Gillett, Bland & Co was refurbished in 1916 by Mears & Stainbank which cost £3.
In 1935, John Taylor & Co rehung the front 7 bells on ball bearings. This suggests that the tenor was already hung on ball bearings. An inspection on 17/03/2023 shows that the tenor is hung on ball bearings by Mears & Stainbank, possibly done in 1931?
At the same time, the bells were given new gudgeons; the Ellacombe hammer for the tenor was refitted so it could be tolled from the ground floor. The old rope was reused.
All clappers except for the 3rd were replaced; new leather liners inside the bells and wooden blocks on the wheels were installed. The bell frame was tightened and the clock-hammers were taken off, painted, and refitted.
At this stage, the Seage's apparatus became worn out again so further refurbishment was required. Again in 1982, the Seage's apparatus was restored by the generosity of a Crawley ringer under the name of Jennings. This is probably George T Jennings who was the tower captain at St John's around the time. During the 1982 restoration, modifications were made to the striking arrangements, and some components were replaced with those from Cuckfield.
A quarter peal of Superlative Surprise Major was rung on it in 1982.
The advantage of using the Seage's rather than using an electronic simulator is that it can still be used during power cuts.
The 3rd was later recast by Mears & Stainbank generously donated by Moses and Ruth Nightingale who were dedicated churchgoers for 56 years. The third was also recast because it was cracked for a while beforehand.
The bells chime every quarter hour on bells 2,3,4,7, and every hour on the tenor. The chime sequence used is the Westminster chime.
The clock was converted to an automatic electronically wound mechanism instead of being hand wound.
To date, 390 peals have been rung at Crawley. St Johns is also historically famous for all of it's surprise major methods rung to these peals, Especially Superlative Surprise Major.
Following on from Superlative, Crawley is also known for ringing a record length of Superlative on Boxing Day 1894.
Again on boxing day 1994, another long length of Superlative was rung to commemorate the then record length peal!
Click here to view the record length in 1994.
The turning on all the bells at Crawley is very interesting. The bells have had a rehang twice since the recast of the 3rd. The bells had been quarter turned originally and then 8th turned to what they are today.
Visited:
.This has been my home tower since 2018.
The Octave ring of bells at Crawley are hung in a west facing tower in the heart of the town.
The 8 bells sit in a timber 8.3 Z trussed frame made by Gillett, Bland & Co.
The tower had 4 bells to begin with. These could have either been cast by a member of the Eldridge family or a London founder as the tower was 15th century.
In 1724, it was reported that: "4 bells, but onely one in order, 3 being crackt." Later in 1742, Thomas Lester of London recast the bells into a ring of 2. See below for the inscriptions. These bells became cracked, presumably due to cast-in crown staples. In 1880, Gillett, Bland & Co cast a peal of 8 bells. There are inscriptions on bells 2,6,7,8 that state who donated them, however, the cost for the other bells were likely raised by public subscriptions. The bells were cast around June and were finally hung on October 6th, 1880
They added an Ellacombe apparatus to allow one person to ring all bells when there weren't enough ringers. Furthermore, a Seage's silent apparatus was installed so that the bells could be practiced in silence.
The Seage's Apparatus which was used extensively from 1880 by Gillett, Bland & Co was refurbished in 1916 by Mears & Stainbank which cost £3.
In 1935, John Taylor & Co rehung the front 7 bells on ball bearings. This suggests that the tenor was already hung on ball bearings. An inspection on 17/03/2023 shows that the tenor is hung on ball bearings by Mears & Stainbank, possibly done in 1931?
At the same time, the bells were given new gudgeons; the Ellacombe hammer for the tenor was refitted so it could be tolled from the ground floor. The old rope was reused.
All clappers except for the 3rd were replaced; new leather liners inside the bells and wooden blocks on the wheels were installed. The bell frame was tightened and the clock-hammers were taken off, painted, and refitted.
At this stage, the Seage's apparatus became worn out again so further refurbishment was required. Again in 1982, the Seage's apparatus was restored by the generosity of a Crawley ringer under the name of Jennings. This is probably George T Jennings who was the tower captain at St John's around the time. During the 1982 restoration, modifications were made to the striking arrangements, and some components were replaced with those from Cuckfield.
A quarter peal of Superlative Surprise Major was rung on it in 1982.
The advantage of using the Seage's rather than using an electronic simulator is that it can still be used during power cuts.
The 3rd was later recast by Mears & Stainbank generously donated by Moses and Ruth Nightingale who were dedicated churchgoers for 56 years. The third was also recast because it was cracked for a while beforehand.
The bells chime every quarter hour on bells 2,3,4,7, and every hour on the tenor. The chime sequence used is the Westminster chime.
The clock was converted to an automatic electronically wound mechanism instead of being hand wound.
To date, 390 peals have been rung at Crawley. St Johns is also historically famous for all of it's surprise major methods rung to these peals, Especially Superlative Surprise Major.
Following on from Superlative, Crawley is also known for ringing a record length of Superlative on Boxing Day 1894.
Again on boxing day 1994, another long length of Superlative was rung to commemorate the then record length peal!
Click here to view the record length in 1994.
The turning on all the bells at Crawley is very interesting. The bells have had a rehang twice since the recast of the 3rd. The bells had been quarter turned originally and then 8th turned to what they are today.
Visited:
.This has been my home tower since 2018.
EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCHWARDENS ACCOUNT BOOK 1877 - 1916
1877 . 8
September 28 Holliman Bowers (Bell Ropes) 1/- 6d
1878
March 13 Messrs William Miller (Bell Ropes) £1 5/- 6d
April 6 Mr Morley (work to bell) 8/-
Terry at bells s7 / 6d
From bell fund towards cost of gas £1 10/-
Year ending Easter 1886
8 new bell ropes £4 16/-
1887
Miller new leathers to Bell Ropes 8s 0d
1888
New bell . ropes for chiming apparatus £1 4/- 6d
1893
Gillett & Co: New set of bell ropes £4 16/-
1898
Repairs £14 6/- India rubber for chiming ropes 6/- £14 12/-
1900
Nichols (new bell ropes).- £4 16/-
Mrs Miller (repairs to bell ropes) 9s . 0d
1905
Nicol for bell ropes 5 . 0 . 0
1910
Smith for bell ropes £3 . 16/- . 0
1915 - 16
Mears & Stainbank repair of bells £57. 0. 0
September 28 Holliman Bowers (Bell Ropes) 1/- 6d
1878
March 13 Messrs William Miller (Bell Ropes) £1 5/- 6d
April 6 Mr Morley (work to bell) 8/-
Terry at bells s7 / 6d
From bell fund towards cost of gas £1 10/-
Year ending Easter 1886
8 new bell ropes £4 16/-
1887
Miller new leathers to Bell Ropes 8s 0d
1888
New bell . ropes for chiming apparatus £1 4/- 6d
1893
Gillett & Co: New set of bell ropes £4 16/-
1898
Repairs £14 6/- India rubber for chiming ropes 6/- £14 12/-
1900
Nichols (new bell ropes).- £4 16/-
Mrs Miller (repairs to bell ropes) 9s . 0d
1905
Nicol for bell ropes 5 . 0 . 0
1910
Smith for bell ropes £3 . 16/- . 0
1915 - 16
Mears & Stainbank repair of bells £57. 0. 0
|
| ||
| jt_4-7-1-20_p.354.jpg |
Old Ringing World articles:
|
| ||||
The Ringing World: 24th October 1980 No* 3626.
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to the nominal.
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 - 352.5Hz - F+16
Prime - 570.5Hz - D♭+50
Tierce - 792Hz - G+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1024.5Hz - C-36
Nominal - 1332Hz - E+18
Prime - 570.5Hz - D♭+50
Tierce - 792Hz - G+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1024.5Hz - C-36
Nominal - 1332Hz - E+18
| crawley1.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 334.5Hz - E+25
Prime - 570Hz - D♭+48
Tierce - 745.5Hz - F# +13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 978Hz - B-16
Nominal - 1238.5Hz - E♭-7
Prime - 570Hz - D♭+48
Tierce - 745.5Hz - F# +13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 978Hz - B-16
Nominal - 1238.5Hz - E♭-7
| crawley2.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 305Hz - E♭-33
Prime - 549Hz - D♭-16
Tierce - 673.5Hz - E+37 (major 3rd)
Quint - 905.5Hz - A+49
Nominal - 1096Hz - D♭-19
Prime - 549Hz - D♭-16
Tierce - 673.5Hz - E+37 (major 3rd)
Quint - 905.5Hz - A+49
Nominal - 1096Hz - D♭-19
| crawley3.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 263.5Hz - C+12
Prime - 442.5Hz - A+10
Tierce - 580.5Hz - D-19 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 778Hz - G-12
Nominal - 984.5Hz - B-5
Prime - 442.5Hz - A+10
Tierce - 580.5Hz - D-19 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 778Hz - G-12
Nominal - 984.5Hz - B-5
| crawley4.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 242.5Hz - B-30
Prime - 416.5Hz - A♭+5
Tierce - 525.5Hz - C+7 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 717Hz - F+45
Nominal - 879Hz - A-1
Prime - 416.5Hz - A♭+5
Tierce - 525.5Hz - C+7 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 717Hz - F+45
Nominal - 879Hz - A-1
| crawley5.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 233Hz - B♭+0
Prime - 417.5Hz - A♭+9
Tierce - 503Hz - B+32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 708Hz - F+23
Nominal - 828.5Hz - A♭-3
Prime - 417.5Hz - A♭+9
Tierce - 503Hz - B+32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 708Hz - F+23
Nominal - 828.5Hz - A♭-3
| crawley6.mp3 |
Bell 7
Hum - 223Hz - A+23
Prime - 352Hz - F+14
Tierce - 443.5Hz - A+14 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 649.5Hz - E-25
Nominal - 736.5Hz - F# -7
Prime - 352Hz - F+14
Tierce - 443.5Hz - A+14 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 649.5Hz - E-25
Nominal - 736.5Hz - F# -7
| crawley7.mp3 |
Bell 8
Hum - 179.5Hz - F+48
Prime - 337Hz - E+38
Tierce - 396Hz - G+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 545.5Hz - D♭-27
Nominal - 655Hz - E-10
Prime - 337Hz - E+38
Tierce - 396Hz - G+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 545.5Hz - D♭-27
Nominal - 655Hz - E-10
| crawley8.mp3 |
Seages Apparatus Bell 1
| seage1.wav |
Seages Apparatus Bell 2
| seage2.wav |
Seages Apparatus Bell 3
| seage3.wav |
Seages Apparatus Bell 4
| seage4.mp3 |
Seages Apparatus Bell 5
| seage5.wav |
Seages Apparatus Bell 6
| seage6.wav |
Seages Apparatus Bell 7
| seage7.wav |
Seages Apparatus Bell 8
| seage8.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the waist*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the waist*
1931 - Present
1 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 GLORY |
2 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 SIR . W . W . BURRELL HONOUR. |
3 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 PRAISE RECAST IN MEMORY OF 56 YEARS OF WORSHIP IN CRAWLEY CHURCH 1875 - 1931 MOSES AND RUTH NIGHTINGALE, "HAZELDEN., CRAWLEY RECAST BY MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON 1931 |
4 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 THANKSGIVING |
5 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 JOY |
6 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 SIR . R . B . LENNARD BROTHERLY LOVE |
7 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 J . B . LENNARD RECTOR WORSHIP. |
8 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ BELL FOUNDERS & CLOCK MAKERS CROYDON ◉ 1880 ◉ ⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛ R . LODER PRAYER |
1880 - 1931
1 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 GLORY |
2 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 SIR . W . W . BURRELL HONOUR. |
3 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 PRAISE |
4 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 THANKSGIVING |
5 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 JOY |
6 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 SIR . R . B . LENNARD BROTHERLY LOVE |
7 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ CROYDON 1880 J . B . LENNARD RECTOR WORSHIP. |
8 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Cᴼ BELL FOUNDERS & CLOCK MAKERS CROYDON ◉ 1880 ◉ ⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛⚛ R . LODER PRAYER |
1742 - 1880
1 |
THOMAS LESTER OF LONDON MADE ME 1742 FRANCIS SMITH CH WARDEN |
2 |
≍≍⋔≍≍⋔≍≍ FRANCIS SMITH CH WARDEN 1742 T.L. FECIT ≍≍⋔≍≍⋔≍≍ |
Latin Translation:
Old 2: FECIT - to make / made.
◉ = Fig. GBC, 1 (Bell 8)
⚛ = Fig. GBC, 2 (Bell 8)
*Click on images to enlarge them*
Old 2: FECIT - to make / made.
◉ = Fig. GBC, 1 (Bell 8)
⚛ = Fig. GBC, 2 (Bell 8)
*Click on images to enlarge them*
Photographs:
Click on the images to enlarge them
