The Parish Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, St. Osyth, Essex

"SERVING GOD THROUGH LOVE, WORSHIP AND WITNESS"

...At the present time the tower of St Peter & St Paul has six bells. In 1546 the tower was known to have four bells which were rehung about this time. By 1552 there were five bells and a Sanctus. Miles Gray III of Colchester recast at least four of the bells in 1663, three of them - the third, fourth and tenor - survive today. Richard Phelps recast the second bell in 1721 and in 1781 William Chapman of Whitechapel added a new treble bell. As the last major works to be done was in 1889 by Bowell of Ipswich, by the Millenium, the bells and the frame were desperately in need of renovation, an extremely expensive project. In addition, the old tenor bell was found to be in such a state of disrepair that it had to be replaced with a new 10cwt bell. The old tenor bell can be seen in the right foreground of the second photograph below.

Above - the bell chamber prior to the rehanging of the bells in 2004

Above - the removed bells in 2004 prior to being collected for renovation

In 2002 fundraising to do the necessary work began. After 2 years hard work, with the help of grants and local fund raising events, the monies were raised and the refurbished bells together with the new tenor bell were rehung by Whites of Appleton on the existing frame which was repaired and strengthened . The old tenor bell was sound welded and was also hung in the sound chamber which is below the bell chamber. The old tenor bell is occasionally used as a tolling bell at funerals. In recognition of the work to raise funds by the people of the parish and church, the new Tenor is inscribed:

'Given by the people of the parish of St Osyth to the Glory of God in the Year of Our Lord MMIV'.

Parishioners and visitors are able to view the bells ringing via close circuit TV in the welcome area near the main north entrance.

If you would like to try bell ringing please contact Steven Clarke (see below) for more details. If you are fit and healthy you are never too old to try something new! Anyone can ring from age 12. We have a wide age range in our own team.

Shrove Tuesday 2016 ~ pancakes in the ringing chamber

Our happy team of ringers practice on most Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm. We aim to ring one quarter peal each month and peals from time to time which often mark special local or national occasions or events.

If you are just visiting the parish or you are already an experienced ringer or team of ringers, you are most welcome to come along and ring our bells by arrangement. Please do get in touch with either Steven Clarke or Ruby Hills below.

Contact Tower Captain, Steven Clarke 07774 037 316
Email address stevenclarke292@btinternet.com

Deputy Tower Captain, Ruby Hills 01255 821526

Our tower is part of the North East Essex Association of change ringers. Fot more inforamtion go to:

www.eacr.org.uk/ne-eacr/

 

 

Pictured left is the stained glass window in the Bell Ringers Chamber which was installed in March 2010 in memory of

CHRIS PAGE, 1947-2007

Verger of this church for many years.

The window was made by Essex artist and conservator Benjamin Finn (http://www.stpetersstainedglass.co.uk/contact.php)

The window was featured in the BBC Songs of Praise programme on 21st March 2010 - the same day that the window was dedicated during a special service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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