Albury church bells and ringers
| Practice | Monday | 7.30 - 9.00p.m. Not on Bank Holiday Mondays |
| Service ringing | Sundays | 9.00 - 9.30 a.m. |
Albury bell ringers 2004.
Richard Thomason, (second left back row) is tower captain.
We are looking for new ringers to join our band. You don't have to be young or musical or superfit.
You don't even have to live in the parish! We will be very happy to teach you.
Our youngest learner is 15 years old and our oldest ringers are in their 80s. We practice on Monday
nights and are able to offer tied bell practice (the clapper of the bell is fixed so you can learn
bell handling without making a sound) on other evenings. If you are interested,
email Richard Thomason
or just drop in for a visit on practice night.
We are a friendly band having regular
"party nights" after practice. We welcome ringers from other towers to join us on
Monday evenings from 7.30.
Join us, we would love to see you.
Details of the bells |
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| Bell | Weight | Diameter | Key | Inscription |
| Treble | 5cwt 10lb | 2'5" | D | Thomas Mears Founder London 1841 |
| Two | 5cwt 1qtr 4lb | 2'6" | C | William Eldridge made mee, 1695 |
| Three | 6cwt 3qtr 22lb | 2'9" | B flat | William Eldridge made mee, 1695 |
| Four | 8cwt 1qtr 2lb | 2'11" | A |
William Eldridge made mee, 1695 This peal of six bells was recast in the year of Our Lord 1935 Philip Gray Rector C F Lloyd W Dyson Fear God and Honour the King |
| Five | 10cwt 2qtr 27lb | 3'3" | G | Thomas Mears Founder London 1841 |
| Tenor | 16cwt 10lb | 3'8" | F | T.H. and W.C., William Eldridge made mee, 1695 |
Notes on the Albury bells
by Philip Gray, Rector of Albury 1935
The peal consists of six bells. The five larger bells were removed from
the Old Parish Church in Albury Park in 1841. They were rehung in the
original oak frame which was also removed from the Old Church, and fitted
into the tower of the present church. No. 5 bell was then recast,
and a new treble bell was cast by Thomas Mears, London, in the same year,
i.e. 1841.
Bells nos. 2, 3, 4, and the Tenor were cast by William Eldridge.
Bells 2, 3, 4, bear the inscription -'William Eldridge made mee, 1695.'
No. 6 carries this inscription -'T.H. and W.C., William
Eldridge made mee, 1695.'
The oak bell frame was never a good fit in the new tower, and in recent
years, when the bells were rung, the vibration set up became a menace
to the fabric of the tower. The head stocks and fittings of the bells
were decayed and rusted, and the bells became practically unringable,
and thoroughly unsafe. Three of the bells were also cracked. The bells are
now hung with the most up-to-date fittings, including totally enclosed
ball-bearings, which only require lubrication once in every twelve years.
The oak framework has been replaced by a strong and massive cast-iron
framework, carried on a foundation consisting of two sets of heavy rolled
steel girders, the whole structure being thoroughly braced and tied together.
The weight of the tenor bell is approximately 15 cwt. 1qr. and the
peal is in the key of F natural.
The clock and chimes
In addition to the actual work on the bells and the bell frame, the clock
chime barrel has been re-pivoted, two new clock hammers have been added,
and the clock now strikes the Cambridge chimes.
The whole of the bell-work has been carried out by Messrs. John Taylor
and Co., Loughborough, for the sum of £420. A further sum of £30 was
required for the alterations to the clock chimes, and the re-decorating
of the ringing room, and the Faculty, making in all a total of £450.
In a letter addressed to the Rector of Albury, Messrs. John Taylor and
Co. say -'We consider the tenor bell is one of the finest we have
turned out for its weight.'
Fundraising
The raising of so large a sum is a heavy undertaking, but the Parish has responded spendidly to the very generous lead which was given by Mr. R. Malthus and his family, and Mr. C. F. Lloyd,and the result is a very beautiful peal of bells, now hung in the tower of Albury Church, dedicated this 23rd day of March, 1935, to the Glory of God, in the Jubilee Year of His Majesty King George V., which is hoped will serve not only the present generation, but many generations still to come.