Tidebrook, St John the BaptistTidebrook has a single bell, hung in a masonry bellcote at the east end of the nave. The church was built in 1856 by Thomas Rushforth at the cost of £1,700.
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
c3 cwt |
24.00" |
1509 Hz |
F# |
Charles & George Mears |
1856 |
Yes |
Swing |
1 Bell, in F#
Upon completion of the church, Whitechapel founders Charles & George Mears supplied a single bell, weighing around
3 cwt.
The bell was cast with an inscription, completely in Latin, featuring their foundry name; the church's patron saint; a line from the Vulgate Bible (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3); and the date. It was formed using the conventional process of pressing letter stamps into the outer mould before casting. It was also cast with a six-looped canon.
Possible restoration to its fittings
At some point in the past, it appears the bell underwent a restoration which involved an overhaul of the fittings and the addition of a metal frame in the turret to improve structural support. The ironwork, such as the straps and lever, was treated, and the headstock may have been replaced at this time too. However, the crown of the bell was not drilled to remove the crown staple, which may suggest that its clapper is original.
Since this bell is “pre-Simpson”, it has old-style tuning, meaning the hum is proportionally sharp and the prime is flat in relation to the nominal. It is, however, still a sweet-sounding bell.
Access
Access to the bell, according to Elphick, requires an 80 rung ladder.
Chimed by a drawn rope in the nave.
Visited: 03/04/2026. Many thanks to the wardens I met during my visit.
Upon completion of the church, Whitechapel founders Charles & George Mears supplied a single bell, weighing around
3 cwt.
The bell was cast with an inscription, completely in Latin, featuring their foundry name; the church's patron saint; a line from the Vulgate Bible (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3); and the date. It was formed using the conventional process of pressing letter stamps into the outer mould before casting. It was also cast with a six-looped canon.
Possible restoration to its fittings
At some point in the past, it appears the bell underwent a restoration which involved an overhaul of the fittings and the addition of a metal frame in the turret to improve structural support. The ironwork, such as the straps and lever, was treated, and the headstock may have been replaced at this time too. However, the crown of the bell was not drilled to remove the crown staple, which may suggest that its clapper is original.
Since this bell is “pre-Simpson”, it has old-style tuning, meaning the hum is proportionally sharp and the prime is flat in relation to the nominal. It is, however, still a sweet-sounding bell.
Access
Access to the bell, according to Elphick, requires an 80 rung ladder.
Chimed by a drawn rope in the nave.
Visited: 03/04/2026. Many thanks to the wardens I met during my visit.
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the nominal, using Simpson's theory.
-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+
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Hum - 402.5Hz - G+46
Prime - 713Hz - F+36
Tierce - 909Hz - Bb-43 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1162Hz - D-18
Nominal - 1509Hz - F#+34
Prime - 713Hz - F+36
Tierce - 909Hz - Bb-43 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1162Hz - D-18
Nominal - 1509Hz - F#+34
| tidebrook.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
C ET G MEARS LONDINI FECERUNT SANCTUS JOHANNES BAPTISTA VOX CLAMATIS INDESERTO 1856 |
Latin translation:
1. C ET G MEARS LONDINI FECERUNT / SANTUS JOHANNES BAPTISTA VOX CLAMATIS INDESERTO -
Made by Charles and George Mears, London. Saint John the Baptist. Voice crying in the wilderness.
1. C ET G MEARS LONDINI FECERUNT / SANTUS JOHANNES BAPTISTA VOX CLAMATIS INDESERTO -
Made by Charles and George Mears, London. Saint John the Baptist. Voice crying in the wilderness.
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries p.393
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/tidebrook-st-john-the-baptist/
