St Michael's Stone, Bell Restoration Project

 


 

A bit of history 

 

Project Costs

 

Project Launch

Background to the project 

 

How can you help 

 

Events

The project 

 

Tower Plan 

 

Donations Received

 


A bit of history

Most bells are hung in churches, but they have always had a much wider significance than simply ecclesiastical. In mediaeval times, churches typically had several bells which each had a particular function and significance – the sanctus bell, the angelus bell, the passing bell, and people would know from the sound they heard what was being announced. In the seventeenth century, ringers began to swing bells higher and with more control, and it was realised that ringing several bells together in a controlled way could be satisfying and pleasing to listen to. By the end of the century, many churches had sets of bells, and bell founders were able to supply such sets reasonably in tune. Having a set of bells became a matter of pride not just to the church but to the community as a whole, and there was sometimes rivalry between neighbouring parishes to see who could have the best ring of bells. As change ringing developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it became customary for bells to be rung to mark a variety of local and national events, some joyful, some sad. For example, royal events such as coronations, births and birthdays were often occasions for ringing, and still are today: there was a great deal of specially arranged ringing two weeks ago for the royal wedding, and the ringers of Stafford still get paid by the civic authorities for early morning ringing on the birthdays of the Queen and the Prince of Wales and for the opening of the court session. In 178x, Stone bells would have rung to celebrate the opening of the canal, and it was also common, if the ringers were supplied with enough beer by the successful candidate, to celebrate election victories with ringing. In 1710 both Eccleshall and Stone (I wonder which was first) bought six new bells from the famous Rudhall foundry in Gloucester. These bells were probably taken up the Severn to Bridgnorth and then, with some difficulty, transported by road. A century later the whole journey could have been done by boat with much less trouble.

 


Background to the project

These bells were state of the art for their time, as befitting a community which wanted the very best. But technology and ringing advanced. In the late nineteenth century Stone went to what by then was the leading bell foundry, Taylors of Loughborough, for two additional bells to complete the octave and widen the horizons and repertoire of the ringers. At that time, and again today, Stone had one of the leading bands of ringers in the area. Unfortunately, these new bells were cast just before the breakthrough which took Taylors into the modern era, and are of poor quality with no possibility of improving them by tuning. From the ringers’ point of view, the attractiveness of a ring of bells depends on two things: the quality of the bells and how well they are hung, which affects the ease of ringing and therefore the quality of the performance. Good ringing requires precise placing of each bell in the sequence, and if the behaviour of the bell when swinging is unpredictable and hard to control, this is impossible to achieve. What we now have at Stone is a ring of eight bells cast at two different times by two different founders before modern tuning allowed the best musical result. These bells are hung in an old timber frame which is less rigid than it should be and is higher in the tower than the ideal position. Furthermore, the fittings of the bells – headstocks, wheels etc – are of antiquated design and materials, again contributing to difficulty of achieving good ringing. The local ringers have done a great deal of maintenance and remedial work over the last thirty years, but it is clear that the installation has now come to the end of its useful life. After much consideration of alternatives, it has been decided to equip the church and town of Stone with a modern ring of bells appropriate not just to the present time but to the next three centuries, thus emulating the ambition and forethought of those who did the same thing in 1710.

 


The project

Much thought has gone into the specification of the new ring of bells. They will be slightly heavier than the present ring, cast to the highest modern musical standards. They will be hung in a rigid metal frame at a lower level in the tower to reduce tower movement and its effect on bell control and the structure. The new ring of bells will not just enable a higher quality of performance now – it will be much easier to teach the next generation of ringers and thereby ensure that Stone will continue to hear high quality ringing in the future. The initial plan is to install eight bells, but the frame has been designed to facilitate the installation of two additional bells when funding allows. Two additional bells would not only enhance performance options but also provide much more flexible teaching facilities, particularly for young people. Over the years it has been common for bells to be cast to commemorate national and local events and as memorials, both national and local. Having a completely new set of bells provides a splendid opportunity for that to be done in this project, and we hope that individuals and groups will offer to sponsor individual bells in this way, which will of course be recorded for posterity by a suitable inscription on the bell. It will also be possible to sponsor smaller components of the installation. This is an ambitious project which will come to fruition only if it is supported by the whole community. We have already had an indication of intent from the bell ringing community in North Staffordshire, who typically contribute 10% to projects such as this, and we are now throwing the project open to the wider community to enable it to contribute to a ring of bells which Stone can be proud of for the next three hundred years.

 


What the new bells will sound like

Here is a short recording of the 8 bells at St Mary the Virgin, Handbury, Worcs. The bells are in the same key (F#) and slightly lighter than our new bells.   Listen here - 39 seconds

 


Radio Stoke interview

Ian Cardinal and Phil Gay were interviewed for the Radio Stoke breakfast show on 3/9/2011.  Listen here - 5 mins

 


Project Costs for Bells and Frame

  Treble 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Tenor

Total

                   
Bell 6200 6390 6970 7305 8715 9640 12560 17300 75080
Headstock 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 6800
Bearings 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 1760
Wheel 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 7200
Pulley Boxes 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 960
Slider 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 400
Running Board 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 320
Stay 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 320
Rope Bosses 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 560
Clapper with Crown Staple 460 460 460 460 460 460 460 460 3680
Slide pivot 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 280
Side Frames 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 14400
I-Beam 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 2400

We are very grateful for the individual donations that we have received so far for the four bells above.


 


Bell hung for Change Ringing


 

Bell and fittings

How can you help

The total bell project will cost about £130,000 and has the full support of the PCC and the local Bell-ringing organisations. A provisional faculty has been granted for the work by the Lichfield Diocesan Advisory Committee. We will be applying for grants but there is still a need for external fund raising.

Please, would you help by making a donation  to keep Stone bells ringing for the next 300 years.

As well as the above cost there will also be building work, transport and installation costs but while we are seeking personal donations we are also looking for people or organisations who would like to sponsor a specific item from the list above. The sponsorship of one of the bells with a suitable inscription  cast into the bell would be a lasting memorial for a loved one. 

 


Tower Plan

 

Plan showing the layout of the new frame and bells 

Project Launch

The appeal was launched at the Crown Hotel, Stone


Events

May 2011
12th May (Thursday) The appeal launch at the Crown Hotel, Stone
June 2011
11th June (Saturday) Stand at Westfield Park
July 2011
9th July (Saturday) St Michael and St Wulfad, Stone Church Fete
August 2011
6th August (Saturday) Table top Sale, St Michael's Hall, Lichfield Road, Stone  12.00 - 2.00pm
12th - 13th August (fri-Sat) Exit tin collection at Morrisons
26th August (Friday) Concert at St Michael's Church 7.30pm  - An evening with Ellie Moran 
September 2011
24th September (Saturday) Around the world wine tasting evening, 7.30pm St Michael's Hall Lichfield Road Stone.
October 2011
   
   
November 2011
12th November (Saturday) NSACR Social,  Quiz Evening,  at St Michael and St Wulfad, Stone Church Hall
   
February 2012
   
March 2012
   
April 2012
  Promises Auction  - St Michael's Church Hall, Stone
21st April (Saturday) NSACR Social,  Quiz Evening,  at St Michael's Church Hall, Stone
27th April (Friday) Promises Auction at St Michael's Church Hall, Stone. Starting at 7.00pm
   
May 2012
19th May (Saturday) Stone Handbell Ringers Concert - Oulton Village Hall 7.30pm with special guest. Tickets £6 - Interval refreshments (coffee & cakes)
26th May (Saturday) Combined Choir Concert in St Michael's Church, with the Cantiamo Chamber Choir from Stone and the Sheffield Chamber Choir.
   
June 2012
   
July 2012
   
August 2012
11th August (Saturday) Beatles Tribute Band Concert 
   
   


Donations to the Bell Appeal

We are very grateful for the following donations that we have received so far .

Mr & Mrs Walker,  Mr & Mrs Pick., Mr J R Hargreaves, Sheltonia Lodge, Mrs H M Deakin, Mrs Moore, MR & Mrs Sedgwick, Mr E A O Pick,
Mrs J Austin, Mr & Mrs R Mason, Mrs H Tallent, Mrs C Prothero, Mr M C Cockin, Bev’s Bakery, Stone Mayor’s Charity, Walton Co-op Hamper Raffle, which was won by Mrs E Gould. Mr Bonham, Mr Cadagan,  Mr Bromley, Mr & Mrs Wright, Stafford Mayor's Charity, Morrison's customers, Stone Festival committee, Mr K D Pemberton, Mrs J Ruxton, Mrs Galletley, Mr & Mrs Prew, Mr M Gray, Mr N Cardington, Mr J Maslin, Mr D Knowles, Mr D Beecham, Mr D B Clive, Mr J Hawkins, Mr C Webb, Mr & Mrs Harvey, Mrs A H Rose, Mr & Mrs R Osborne, Mr D E D Johnson


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