Berwick, St Michael & All AngelsBerwick has a chime of two bells hung in a west-facing tower. The present tower dates back to 1603, featuring 3 small bell openings and a tall spire. In 1773, the spire was struck by lightning, caused significant damage to the tower and spire, resulting in a lengthy and expensive repair. The spire was further rebuilt in 1856, and re-shingled around 2016. To prevent damage by woodpeckers, it has been lined with stainless-steel to prevent this. The chamber above the present belfry, what I assume to be the original belfry, is now empty except for swift boxes to encourage nesting. There is a preserved sketch showing 4 ringers from a gallery.
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The Bells
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
12.13" |
2771.5 Hz |
F |
1781 |
Removed |
Swing |
||
2 |
33.00" |
906.5 Hz |
Bb |
Henry Wilner |
1629 |
Dead |
2 Bells, in Bb (Tuning 1,12 of 12)
The earliest reference to bells dates back to 1629, when the present tenor by Henry Wilner was cast, although, there were probably bells when the tower was built. At this time, there was no doubt a ring of 4, rung from a gallery. Wilner's other remaining bell in Sussex is the bell at Pett, St Mary & St Peter. Like most of his competitors at the time, the inscription was made using cut out sheet wax. It has a gentle tone to it with a major third Tierce. It was cast with plain conventional canon with a fairly raised crown.
In 1677, the treble became cracked as shown in the church presentments of that year: "One of the bells crackt."
It can also be found in the 1686 survey: "There is one bell crackt."
John Wood recast the bell in 1698, an itinerant founder from Bishopsgate.
Restoration of the treble
Dated October 24th, 1698, a agreement was made between Wood and the churchwardens John Barnden & George Ranger for the bell to be recast using the same metal and 8 brasses to be made for the bells (2 brasses per bell suggests a ring of 4). The agreement only mentions a sum of £5 10s was paid towards Wood, but the total expense in the churchwardens accounts - if they survive - would be greater. One cord of wood was given to wood casting the bell at Alfriston for his furnace, and the church would only pay once as soon as the bell was new cast and in tune with the others.
The bell bore the inscription:
⫶ DEO ⫶ ⫶ QUEMADMODUM ⫶ ⫶ 1698 ⫶
See below for the agreement in full
The earliest reference to bells dates back to 1629, when the present tenor by Henry Wilner was cast, although, there were probably bells when the tower was built. At this time, there was no doubt a ring of 4, rung from a gallery. Wilner's other remaining bell in Sussex is the bell at Pett, St Mary & St Peter. Like most of his competitors at the time, the inscription was made using cut out sheet wax. It has a gentle tone to it with a major third Tierce. It was cast with plain conventional canon with a fairly raised crown.
In 1677, the treble became cracked as shown in the church presentments of that year: "One of the bells crackt."
It can also be found in the 1686 survey: "There is one bell crackt."
John Wood recast the bell in 1698, an itinerant founder from Bishopsgate.
Restoration of the treble
Dated October 24th, 1698, a agreement was made between Wood and the churchwardens John Barnden & George Ranger for the bell to be recast using the same metal and 8 brasses to be made for the bells (2 brasses per bell suggests a ring of 4). The agreement only mentions a sum of £5 10s was paid towards Wood, but the total expense in the churchwardens accounts - if they survive - would be greater. One cord of wood was given to wood casting the bell at Alfriston for his furnace, and the church would only pay once as soon as the bell was new cast and in tune with the others.
The bell bore the inscription:
⫶ DEO ⫶ ⫶ QUEMADMODUM ⫶ ⫶ 1698 ⫶
See below for the agreement in full
The agreement in full to John Wood
Articles of agreement indented, made, concluded properly, and agreed upon this twenty-fourth day of October, anno dom, one thousand six hundred ninety-eight, between John Wood, of the parish of Bishopsgate, in the city of London, of the one part, and John Barnden and George Ranger, churchwardens, and Edmund Page and William Allen, overseers of the poore of the parish of Berwick, in the county of Sussex, of the other part, as followeth. Imprimis the said John Wood, for and in consideracon of the sume of five pounds tenn shillings of lawful money of England, to be paid to him as hereinafter is menconed, doth hereby covenant and agree for himself, his heires, executors, and adm’strators, to and with the said Richard Barnden, George Ranger, Edmund Page, and William Allen, and their successors, Churchwardens and overseers for the poor of the said parish of Berwicke for the tyme being, in manner and forme following the is to say, the he the said John Wood, his executors, adm’strators or assignes shall and will cast and make for the parish of Berwicke one new bell out of the little old bell that is now broaken and decayed, and also shall att his owne propper cost and charges new make and cast eight brasses for the bells of the said parish of Berwick, and shall find all the mettle which shall be wanting in and towards the makeing of the said bell and brasses.
Item the said Richard Barnden, George Ranger, Edmund Page, and William Allen, for themselves and their successors, Churchwardens and overseers of the said parish for the tyme being, doe hereby covenant, promise and agree to and with the said John Wood, his executors and adm’strators, that they the said Churchwardens and overseers and their successors or some of them, shall and will bring, find, provide and lay downe att the parish church of Alfriston, at the propper cost and charges of the said parish of Berwick, one cord of wood in and towards the new casting of the said bell, and alsoe shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Wood his executor, adm’strators or assignes the aforesaid sum of five pounds tenn shillings when and as soone as the said bell shall be new cast and found tuneable and the said eight brasses made aforesaid. And to the true performance of all and every the covenants and agreements above menconed which on the part and behalfe of every of the said partys ought to be performed the said partys bind themselves each unto the other in the pennal sume of tenn pounds firmly by these presents. In witnesse whereof the said partys have to these present articles of agreement interchangeably sett their hands and seals the day and yeare above written. RICHARD BARNDEN. (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered, being first duly stampt wth to sixpenny stamps, in the presence of Edward Balldy, Edwd. Basden
Item the said Richard Barnden, George Ranger, Edmund Page, and William Allen, for themselves and their successors, Churchwardens and overseers of the said parish for the tyme being, doe hereby covenant, promise and agree to and with the said John Wood, his executors and adm’strators, that they the said Churchwardens and overseers and their successors or some of them, shall and will bring, find, provide and lay downe att the parish church of Alfriston, at the propper cost and charges of the said parish of Berwick, one cord of wood in and towards the new casting of the said bell, and alsoe shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Wood his executor, adm’strators or assignes the aforesaid sum of five pounds tenn shillings when and as soone as the said bell shall be new cast and found tuneable and the said eight brasses made aforesaid. And to the true performance of all and every the covenants and agreements above menconed which on the part and behalfe of every of the said partys ought to be performed the said partys bind themselves each unto the other in the pennal sume of tenn pounds firmly by these presents. In witnesse whereof the said partys have to these present articles of agreement interchangeably sett their hands and seals the day and yeare above written. RICHARD BARNDEN. (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered, being first duly stampt wth to sixpenny stamps, in the presence of Edward Balldy, Edwd. Basden
The 1724 Diocesan survey simply states: “4 Bells.”
Bells for sale
Berwick sold off 3 of their bells in 1811, the treble of which was sent to Alfriston to become their new 2nd so they could augment to 6. "The parson was poor and so were the people, So they sold the bell to mend their steeple". This means Wood's bell was around note E. The other two bells were sold so that the church could afford the repair works on the steeple. The original bells at Alfriston became their back 3, and 2 extra bells by Thomas II Mears became their treble and 3rd. Sadly the fate of the other two Berwick bells is unknown.
Since the parishioners were displeased after loosing 3 of their bells, they bought a 12.13" ships bell, cast by William Chapman in 1781. This bell was acquired after it washed ashore in the Seven Ships Disaster.
It has no more than the date inscribed around the inscription band, and was originally cast with a peg argent. This was removed by Whitechapel in recent years.
An extension to the timber 5.A frame was made so that this bell could swing beside the Wilner bell using the same truss design.
Gillett & Johnston overhaul
In 1937, the bells were overhauled by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon.
The tenor was hung dead and clocked, and the treble was still hung for swing chime.
The bells are rung from the ground floor by red, white and blue sallied ropes in the north-east corner.
A 19-rung ladder is required to access the belfry through a hatch in the south-west corner.
Old photos of the church show a wooden ladder behind the organ, similar to the one accessing the chamber above the belfry.
In recent years, the bells had an overhaul by Whitechapel. The ship bell was rehung on new fittings for lever chiming, and the tenor was given new supporting straps. A new clapper was fitted in the tenor to enable it to be safely clocked. A new frame was made so that the treble could swing in a timber frame, stretching across the trusses of the tenor. New ropes and pulleys were supplied too.
The bells and church were in fantastic condition during my visit in 2023.
Visited: 16/01/2023 with great thanks to Peter Blee - Rector
Bells for sale
Berwick sold off 3 of their bells in 1811, the treble of which was sent to Alfriston to become their new 2nd so they could augment to 6. "The parson was poor and so were the people, So they sold the bell to mend their steeple". This means Wood's bell was around note E. The other two bells were sold so that the church could afford the repair works on the steeple. The original bells at Alfriston became their back 3, and 2 extra bells by Thomas II Mears became their treble and 3rd. Sadly the fate of the other two Berwick bells is unknown.
Since the parishioners were displeased after loosing 3 of their bells, they bought a 12.13" ships bell, cast by William Chapman in 1781. This bell was acquired after it washed ashore in the Seven Ships Disaster.
It has no more than the date inscribed around the inscription band, and was originally cast with a peg argent. This was removed by Whitechapel in recent years.
An extension to the timber 5.A frame was made so that this bell could swing beside the Wilner bell using the same truss design.
Gillett & Johnston overhaul
In 1937, the bells were overhauled by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon.
The tenor was hung dead and clocked, and the treble was still hung for swing chime.
The bells are rung from the ground floor by red, white and blue sallied ropes in the north-east corner.
A 19-rung ladder is required to access the belfry through a hatch in the south-west corner.
Old photos of the church show a wooden ladder behind the organ, similar to the one accessing the chamber above the belfry.
In recent years, the bells had an overhaul by Whitechapel. The ship bell was rehung on new fittings for lever chiming, and the tenor was given new supporting straps. A new clapper was fitted in the tenor to enable it to be safely clocked. A new frame was made so that the treble could swing in a timber frame, stretching across the trusses of the tenor. New ropes and pulleys were supplied too.
The bells and church were in fantastic condition during my visit in 2023.
Visited: 16/01/2023 with great thanks to Peter Blee - Rector
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominals.
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 - 802.5Hz - G+40
Prime - 1287Hz - E-41
Tierce - 1663.5Hz - Ab+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 2379.5Hz - D+22
Nominal - 2771.5Hz - F-13
Prime - 1287Hz - E-41
Tierce - 1663.5Hz - Ab+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 2379.5Hz - D+22
Nominal - 2771.5Hz - F-13
| berwick1.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 265.5Hz - C+25
Prime - 441Hz - A+4
Tierce - 557.5Hz - Db+10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 749Hz - F#+21
Nominal - 906.5Hz - Bb-48
Prime - 441Hz - A+4
Tierce - 557.5Hz - Db+10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 749Hz - F#+21
Nominal - 906.5Hz - Bb-48
| berwick2.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1811 - Present
1 |
1781 |
2 |
WILLIAM♢THOMAƧ♢ANTHONY♢IORDEN♢HENRY♢WILNER♢MADE♢ME1629♢ |
1698 - 1811
1 |
⫶ DEO ⫶ ⫶ QUEMADMODUM ⫶ ⫶ 1698 ⫶ |
2 |
No data |
3 |
No data |
4 |
WILLIAM♢THOMAƧ♢ANTHONY♢IORDEN♢HENRY♢WILNER♢MADE♢ME1629♢ |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- ELPHICK, George P. (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries p.257
- TYSSEN, Amhurst D. (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex p.49
- Sussex Record Society Vol. L p.60
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/berwick-st-michael-and-all-angels/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1m0cR0U8_E&t=28s - Richard Vobes
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
