West Stoke, St Andrew
West Stoke has a single bell, hung in a stout tower no higher than the nave. The tower also serves as the porch and dates back to around the 13th century. The south wall shows where a much larger window has been bricked up, similar to that at Sullington.
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
c6.75 cwt |
33.38" |
943 Hz |
Bb |
Samuel Knight |
1712 |
Swing |
1 Bell, in Bb
There may have been bells here when the tower was built; however, the earliest recorded bell we know of is the present one. The bell frame has a pair of empty bearing slots, which shows that there were at least two bells here at one stage.
In the 17th century, the church had a boarded belfry, as shown by the entries: “the Churche dore wanteth mendinge and the belfry bordinge” in 1602, and “The steeple is ill covered” eight years later.
The present bell
Samuel Knight cast and supplied a bell in 1712, with fairly large and heavy letters measuring 1.38" in height. Owing to their irregularity, it appears they were made from cut-out sheet wax.
Its square-like profile gives the bell a prime frequency one tone sharp, resulting in an acidic tone, particularly as the tierce and prime are just over a semitone apart. It was cast with a conventional canon and heavy moulding wires. As shown by the lack of tuning marks, this bell is a maiden bell.
The dimensions are as follows:
Shoulder circumference: 56.25"
Lip to shoulder length: 22.00"
Soundbow thickness: 2.25" (6.74% of diameter)
The original headstock, wheel, and other fittings are preserved on the belfry floor, with the original wheel measuring 6' 4" in diameter.
Diocesan survey
Usually, the number of bells in a church was recorded in the 1724 diocesan survey, but there is no mention of any bells here. It is interesting to note, however, that the rector in that year, Thomas Baker, was also the schoolmaster at Chichester and held an M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge.
There may have been bells here when the tower was built; however, the earliest recorded bell we know of is the present one. The bell frame has a pair of empty bearing slots, which shows that there were at least two bells here at one stage.
In the 17th century, the church had a boarded belfry, as shown by the entries: “the Churche dore wanteth mendinge and the belfry bordinge” in 1602, and “The steeple is ill covered” eight years later.
The present bell
Samuel Knight cast and supplied a bell in 1712, with fairly large and heavy letters measuring 1.38" in height. Owing to their irregularity, it appears they were made from cut-out sheet wax.
Its square-like profile gives the bell a prime frequency one tone sharp, resulting in an acidic tone, particularly as the tierce and prime are just over a semitone apart. It was cast with a conventional canon and heavy moulding wires. As shown by the lack of tuning marks, this bell is a maiden bell.
The dimensions are as follows:
Shoulder circumference: 56.25"
Lip to shoulder length: 22.00"
Soundbow thickness: 2.25" (6.74% of diameter)
The original headstock, wheel, and other fittings are preserved on the belfry floor, with the original wheel measuring 6' 4" in diameter.
Diocesan survey
Usually, the number of bells in a church was recorded in the 1724 diocesan survey, but there is no mention of any bells here. It is interesting to note, however, that the rector in that year, Thomas Baker, was also the schoolmaster at Chichester and held an M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge.
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Overhaul
At the expense of Colonel John Lunch, CBE, the bell was rehung by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1997 on all new fittings for swing chiming with the use of a full wheel and ball bearings. A dedicatory plaque was fitted to the frame sill. Throughout his retirement, Colonel Lunch spent his time racing at Goodwood and supporting both Chichester Cathedral and St Andrew’s, West Stoke. He passed away aged 91 on 10 May 2010. |
Colonel John Lunch CBE
(The Telegraph)
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Frame
The frame consists of a large pair of timber trusses of type 1.D.viii See Frames
The whole structure has been largely reconstructed, with most of the ancient components re-used. There are signs at the base indicating that it once had a slider, suggesting it originally housed a ringable bell. The current bell’s former headstock had no stay-bolt holes, so this may have belonged to its predecessor.
Access to the belfry is by an 18-rung ladder. All of the fittings are in good condition, except for the clapper, which is rather stiff and therefore difficult to strike.
Visited: 11/02/2025 with Peter J Maddams.
The frame consists of a large pair of timber trusses of type 1.D.viii See Frames
The whole structure has been largely reconstructed, with most of the ancient components re-used. There are signs at the base indicating that it once had a slider, suggesting it originally housed a ringable bell. The current bell’s former headstock had no stay-bolt holes, so this may have belonged to its predecessor.
Access to the belfry is by an 18-rung ladder. All of the fittings are in good condition, except for the clapper, which is rather stiff and therefore difficult to strike.
Visited: 11/02/2025 with Peter J Maddams.
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 - 230.5Hz - Bb-18
Prime - 541.5Hz - Db-40
Tierce - 581Hz - D-18 (sharp minor 3rd)
Quint - 691.5Hz - F-16
Nominal - 943Hz - Bb+20
Prime - 541.5Hz - Db-40
Tierce - 581Hz - D-18 (sharp minor 3rd)
Quint - 691.5Hz - F-16
Nominal - 943Hz - Bb+20
| west_stoke_st_andrew.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
THOMAS SNO CW SK J7J2 |
Plaque |
WEST STOKE ST . ANDREW'S CHURCH THIS BELL WAS REHUNG WITH COMPLETELY NEW SWING CHIMING FITTINGS BY THE WHITECHAPEL BELL FOUNDRY LTD. AT THE EXPENSE OF COLONEL JOHN LUNCH CBE AD 1997 |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8609422/John-Lunch.html
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/west-stoke-st-andrew/
