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St Michael & All Angels, Fringford FROM A LETTER DATED 19 JULY 1994 WRITTEN TO THE THEN RECTOR OF THE PARISH BY RICHARD STEVENS OF THE DIOCESAN GUILD OF BELLRINGERS:
By way of information the following data have been taken from the book "Church Bells of Oxfordshire" by Frederick Sharpe (published 1954).
The bells are hung to their cannons to elm headstocks with supporting iron work. The fittings are those normally associated with full circle ringing (wheel stays, sliders). The frame is of timber construction. It should be made clear that the frame and fittings are falling into decay, and the bells should not be rung full circle, as to do so would be courting disaster. Swing chiming of the bells, however, from time to time would be less hazardous. During the inspection of the tower, the condition of the stonework above the bells and bellframe was observed. There were many loose stones and in places the rendering had come loose and fallen down amongst the bells. To put the installation into good order is going to cost a lot of money, and will require a fresh start. The lightest bell is tonally poor, and the whole ring absorbs most of the space in the tower. A new ring could be installed but the bells will need to be smaller than those currently in the tower. In 1996 Fringford PCC decided to have a survey done of the bells. A representative of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry visited the church on 24 September 1996. His report gives the following descriptions of the bells:
Ab Old Concert Pitch = 429 c.p.s The 2nd bell is listed for preservation by the Council for the Care of Churches. All the bells appeared sound and are fair for tone with the exception of the treble which is conspicuously poor. At the time the Foundry proposed two possible ways forward: (a)To recast the treble, form a ring of five employing the 2nd as tenor, hang the five bells with new fittings and frame work for change ringing, re-hang the Sanctus bell for swing chiming, and hang the existing tenor stationary for striking the hours (£44.028); or (b)Re-hang the three bells for stationary chiming (£11,977). No action was taken as the PCC felt unable to raise the money. The PCC also took advice from Whites of Appleton who supplied a report and quotation in June 1997. The quotation was for re-hanging for swing chiming. No further action was taken. There is a lot more information about the state of the bells and bell tower in the two reports which is open to inspection should anyone wish it. At present, one or two bells will be tolled for ten or so minutes before a service and for weddings all three bells are tolled. The clock has been fixed now and a clock hammer strikes the hours upon the tenor bell. |
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