A touch of Plain Bob Major (inside) and some Cambridge Surprise Major (outside) on the light 1991 Whitechapel eight of St Mary, Peterborough, rung by The Lilliputters Guild as part of our AGM Day on Saturday, 16th March 2024.
The original St Mary’s church was built between 1859-60. The tower, with its saddleback roof, was completed in 1884, and a clock installed in 1886 (at the cost of £88). However, by the late twentieth century, the building had fallen into a state of disrepair, and become too costly to keep up. The vicar, James Bates, put forward a plan to sell the old building, which was sited on prime-value land, to local developers. As part of the exchange, they would build a new church . The old St Mary’s closed on 22nd October 1989, and the new church opened in 1991. The architecture of the new building will divide taste! However, there is little doubt as to its use not only as a church, but a useful community space, with modern facilities (including a lift up to the floor where the ringing chamber sits!), toilets, and kitchen all in place.
Six bells, cast by John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate, London, were installed in the original church in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. 73 peals were rung on these bells, with the first, Bob Minor, on 20th August 1903, and the last, 10 Minor methods, on 22nd October 1989 for the closure of the old church. These bells were transferred to St Saviour, Pimlico in London, and augmented to eight courtesy of two trebles ex-Gosport, Hampshire. The "new" eight, which replaced two Warner clock and Sanctus bells, were tuned before being hung in a new frame by Whitechapel in 1992.
In their place, a brand new light ring of eight were cast and installed by Whitechapel for the new church. The bells themselves aren’t especially interesting - a modern ring which handle well and sound fine, albeit not as clear inside as they perhaps should be - but they are readily available, with good sound control. The ringing chamber is in a slightly odd place - on top of a staircase landing! - but is also very homely.
Tenor 8-3-17 in A
dove.cccbr.org...
Further Reading and Sources:
St Mary’s church history: peterborough-s...
The “old” six, now at St Saviour, Pimlico: westminster.lov...