This is the South Collingham Ringing page.

The village of Collingham has the rare distinction of having two medieval churches separated by just under 1 mile where each church has a fine ring of bells. Equally rare these days is the number of times that the bells in both towers are heard simultaneously - the last time this happened was on the occasion to celebrate the new Millennium on 1st January 2000 at 12noon.

Both towers, known locally as North and South, are well known in the ringing world and each year are visited by teams of ringers from far and wide. They are usually keen to ring a peal which can last from 30 minutes to over 3 hours. When this happens consideration is given to residents living close to the church to ensure that the ringing is over by 9:00 pm.

The five bells of South Collingham have a sweet mellow tone due to the bells having been cast at the same time and expertly tuned. The sound is carried over the whole village by the prevailing wind from the southwest.

The bells, originally three in number, were re-cast into four in 1638, and these in turn have given place to a Victorian peal of five bells, purchased in 1841 and hung in a wooden frame. These bells were tuned and re-hung with new fittings in a new steel frame in 1954 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. Space was made for a 6th bell which is yet to be installed. Mr Yeomans set up a bell frame fund about 50 years ago in order to provide funding for the purchase of a 6th bell. This fund is still there over 50 years later waiting for a generous benefactor to bring it up to the sum required. A plaque on the ringing chamber wall records the information given below:-

On Monday January 24th members of the Southwell Diocesan Guild rang a peal. This peal was very special as it was recorded as having the largest number of methods/variations yet rung in a peal. The peal was 5280 doubles and comprised 44 extents in 543 plain course methods and 126 variations. All the names of the variations are recorded on a small card pinned up in the ringing chamber. The names given are mainly of towns and villages within a 50 mile radius of Collingham and make fascinating reading.

The names of the peal ringers were:-

(Note:- * Denotes Conductor)

The bells at South church today are looked after by the Tower Captain, Mr Ken Crocker who has rang at South Collingham Church for over 64 years. Before Ken took the bells over they were in the care of Mr C E L (Teddy) Maxwell for many years. He was the son of a former Rector of South Collingham and lived next to the Rectory. He was employed by Smith Woolley and Wigram, Land Agents, where he was Chief Cashier. Ken regularly conducts a team of local ringers at both North and South Collingham for major Sunday and festival services and at Weddings. Mr Crocker also regulates the church clock which is renowned throughout the village as being an accurate measure of the time. The clock chimes the quarters on bells 2 and 4 and the tenor chimes for the hour.

Mr Crocker may be contacted on 01636 892297

Nigel Priestley October 2006