Clavering Bellringers

Who are the bellringers | The bells  | Events of 2003  | Some History

Church of St Mary & St Clement, Clavering.

The church can be found at the west end of the village, at the end of Church Lane, off the Pelham Road.

Access to the ringing tower is via a door at the base of the tower on the outside of the building

The bells are rung on Sundays for morning service at 10:30am or evening service at 6:00pm, and at designated events throughout the year.

Practice night is Friday evening between 8:00 and 9:00pm

Who are the bellringers?

Clavering Tower has a small band of ringers from Clavering, Langley and Newport. Currently they are:

Ulrike Balser

Linda & Richard Bowran

Alison & Tosh Moller

Wendy & Pete Upson

Jenny and Peter Milledge

Lee Adams

The key contacts are:

    Tower Captain - Richard Bowran  (01799 550675)

    Tower Secretary / Treasurer - Wendy Upson (01799 550842)

We are always looking for new recruits ! Do come along on the practice night, or contact any of the ringers, if you would like to take up this rewarding social activity.

The bells

Clavering Church has 6 bells:  

The Weight of the Tenor is approximately 9cwt

All of the bell ropes were replaced in March 2004

Some History

...from 'The Church Bells of Essex' by Rev. Cecil Deedes & H.B. Waters(1909).

Early reference to the bells was made in 5 October 1552: "All the belles in the steple by estimacon of lxij weight a sanctus bell and a handbell by estimacon of j
weight".

There were formerly 6 bells; the old treble was sold in 1866 to help pay for the re-casting of the others, but the pit still remains.

There were 5 bells in 1909:
1. Cast by J. Warner & Sons, London 1866 - 27 and half ins.
2. Same size, ditto. Weight 4 cwt.
3. Cast T. Mears of London 1830-31.
4. Same as 3.
5. Cast by Ware & Sons 1866: 37 & half ins. Weight 9 cwt.

CUSTOMS: Death knell rung at 8 a.m. on  day after death, treble for children
under 12, tenor for others; toll for l hour. Tellers: 3 strokes for male, 2
for female, at beginning and end of peal. On Sundays bells chimed for
services. Gleaning bell rung up to 1887 at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., tenor used.
Ringing at Christmas and New Years Eve, but apparently very little
enthusiasm shown.