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24 September 2014

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Crediton Church Bells

The new bells lined up in the church.

Ten new bells have now arrived at Crediton Parish Church after five years of fund raising.

The original eight bells were worn out, and parishioners raised £120,000 to have them renewed.

LISTEN TO THE OLD BELLS

Click here to hear the old bells. (320K MP3 file)

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St Mary's Church bell, Newton Abbot

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Crediton Parish Church

Whitechapel Bell Foundry

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THE BELLS

Seven of the original eight bells date back to 1774, and were probably cast in Crediton.

The eighth bell was cast at the world famous Whitechapel Foundry in London by Thomas Mears in 1814.

The original bells were taken to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry to be melted down and used towards the new ten bells.

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The project to restore the bells at Crediton Parish Church has been one of the biggest of its kind in the South West for more than 100 years.

None of the original eight bells had been moved from the bell tower since they were cast some 200 years ago.

But in April the bells - weighing a total of five tons - were disconnected and lowered through a series of trap doors, 80 feet to the church floor.

The bells being cast at the foundry

Then the process was reversed, as the 10 new bells, cast from the molten remains of the original ones, were taken to their new home at Crediton Parish Church.

The 10 bells were cast over the summer at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, where one of the original bells was made in 1814.

The old oak frame from the church tower was taken to Upton Pyne to be re-used in a Devon Longhouse restoration.

While the new bells were being cast, a new iron girder frame was built, and the church tower has been strengthened and redecorated.

Lifting one of the new bells into position.

The new 10 bell peal arrived in Crediton on Carnival day - Saturday 2nd October.

The bells were paraded on a lorry through the town as part of the carnival procession from Lords Meadow.

They were named by the Reverend Nigel Guthrie during the 9.30am service on Sunday 10th October.

After going on display in the church for two weeks they were finally raised into their new metal frame in the bell tower.

The Bishop of Exeter will be visiting Holy Cross to dedicate the new bells on Sunday 21st November at 3pm. This will be the culmination of a massive project.

The Ringer's bell (no 6), is raised for the first time.

Mr Guthrie says these new bells should last at least 200 years, so this was the only chance to go to a bell-naming service at Holy Cross!

Bell ringing has played an important part in church life at Crediton for almost 700 years.

The new bells will help today's bell ringers continue that tradition.

Photos courtesy: Crediton Parish Church