ST. MATTHEW’S COMPANY OF CHURCH BELLRINGERS
St. Matthew’s Bell ringers ring each Sunday morning, ringing for Harvest Festival, Christmas morning, Easter Sunday and Patronal Festival. They also ring half muffled on Remembrance Sunday.
Practice night is on a Wednesday at 7.p.m. where they ring to improve their ringing methods and anyone interested in joining the “Tower” should contact the Captain of the Tower, Mr. G. Parting or just turn up on a Wednesday night.
During the year they also ring at weddings and also enjoy an Annual Day out to different parts of the country ringing in a number of selected churches.
THE BELLS
The peal of eight bells was cast from the purest bell metal in proportion specified by Lord Grimthorpe (The designer of Big Ben, Westminster), by John Taylor & Sons, Loughborough, and was dedicated on 23rd July, 1902.
The bells were given by Mrs. Mary Drew and cost £657.13.7., of which £85.15.0. was allowed for the old bell. It was thought that this bell was melted down and the metal used in casting the new peal but from information lately received from the bell founders that was not the case. Canon Drew records that the old bell was tolled 2,470 times as a " passing bell". The bells bear the following inscriptions:
1. TREBLE : "A.M.D.G MARJADREWNOS FLERICURA-VTT. JOHANNES TAYLOR, LOUGHBOROUGH, NOS FUDIT, ANNO DOMINI MCMH"
("To the greater glory of God. Mary Drew caused us to be made. John Taylor, Loughborough, cast us, in the year of our Lord 1902")
2. "SURGE QUI DORMS ETEXSURGE AMORTUIS ETILLUMINABRR TE CHRISTUS Ephes.v.14".
("Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light")
3. " SERVITE DOMINO IN LAETTTIA. PS. C. I."
("Serve the Lord in gladness")
4. "INTROITE PORTAS EJUS IN CONFESSIONE. PS. C. 3"
("Enter into His gates with thanksgiving")
5. NONNE DUODEdM SUNT HORAE DIEI? JOAN, XI 9."
("Are there not twelve hours in the day?")
6. "IN MANIBUS TUIS SORTES MEAE. Ps. XXXI. 17."
("My time is in Thy hand")
7. "VIGILATE ET ORATE: NESOTUS ENIM QUANDO TEMPUS SIT. MARC. XIII 3."
(" Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is")
8. TENOR : "VENITHORA. JOAN, XVII"
("The hour is come")
The maker's specification reads:
"Anew ring of eight bells, cast of the purest bell metal in the proportions as specified by Lord Grimthorpe, fitted with mountings of the most approved make, notably the iron-girder head stocks, Hastings stay and slider, and the Heywood lubricator for the bearings, The Ellacombe improved Chiming Apparatus is also fitted to the bells so that one person may chime all eight bells."
The framework is of massive iron H-shaped castings on stout rolled-steel girders.
The diameter, weight and notes of the bells are as follows:
