EAST TRENT CHURCHES
Besthorpe, Clifton, Collingham,
Girton, Harby, Holme, Langford, South Scarle, Thorney,  Winthorpe

North Collingham

Prior to 1922 the bells were four in number and ran in a wooden frame.

1.      Dated  1797,  inscribed "Charles Lesiter, Wm.  M. Dewick, Ch: Wardens. Thomas Osborne, Downham, Norfolk, fecit."

2.      Dated 1661, motto "Jesus be our speed."

3.      Dated 1613, inscribed: "I sweetly toling men do call to taste meate that feeds the soul."

4.      Dated 1715,  inscribed  "Haec  Campana sacra fiat Trinitate beata."

In 1922 numbers 4 and 6 of the ring of bells were re-cast and two trebles added. All the bells were re-hung in a new steel frame with new fittings throughout by Gillett and Johnston of Croydon; Bellfounders and clockmakers.

This is recorded in a document hanging in the ringing chamber:-

The Rev Reginald Freestone Gould, MA RD Vicar

Arthur Loveday

The Rev Reginald Freestone Gould, MA RD Vicar

Churchwardens:  Arthur Loveday,  Frederick Watson Hoe

Note that bell number 5 has not been recast, having been originally founded in 1613 –  this bell has a wonderful tone and is known to carry very well over the village often being rang as the last bell just before a service is to start.

On Monday January 31^st 1927 a Peal of Bob Minor 5040 changes was rang and this was the first peal rang on the re-hung bells. The peal took 2 hours & 58 minutes by a team of local ringers who were all Sunday Service Ringers. 

E D Priestley.              Treble                          Miss V. Birkett.             4

Mrs L East.                  2                                  H Pickett.                        5

J H Clayton                  3                                  R Thompson.                  6  (Conductor)

R F Gould. Vicar

Churchwardens: A Loveday, F W Hoe  

Edward Dale Priestley rang the treble and is the Grandfather of the writer. He was bell ringer for over 60 years, Tower Captain, Clerk and Verger from 1934 until his death in 1965. He looked after the bells meticulously, being well known in the diocese and in the village. A peal was rang by Collingham ringers on the occasion of his 80^th birthday on 14^th April 1962. He died in 1965 and this was marked by the ringing of a half muffled peal which is still remembered by some people in the village today. Sadly the muffles have mysteriously vanished which means that we cannot ring a muffled peal today. Edward Priestley organised a peal to ring out the old year and ring in the new, on each New Year’s Eve. The bells were half muffled for the ringing just before midnight and then he would go up into the bell chamber and remove the muffles with the bells all set. This is now regarded as a risky operation since a false move could easily result in serious injury. However he always managed to do it without incident so that the New Year could be rang in with great effect. 

Exactly 50 years later, on Monday January 31^st 1977, members of the Southwell Diocesan Guild rang an almost identical peal. This peal of 5040 changes took 2hours and 48 minutes, 10 minutes less than the one 50 years before. 

Harold Stevenson                   Treble              Thomas G Goodwin            4

Michael Lewers                        2                      William L Exton                   5 (conductor)

F William Midwinter                 3                      Philip R Wild                         6

Rupert John Stevens, Vicar

Churchwardens: Stanley Brewer,  Roy Cullum 

Both these peals are recorded on the wall of the ringing chamber on almost identical Peal Boards. 

The church clock chimes the quarters on bells 2 and 4 and the tenor chimes for the hour. This bell can be heard far and wide on a still calm night, and provides many villagers working in their gardens with a reliable and useful time check. Late churchgoers are often seen breaking into a run or very fast walk on the distinctive sound of the hour being struck at North Collingham, proclaiming that they are late for the service.

Nigel Priestley (author of this article) looks after the bells at North Collingham today and organises local ringers for special services and weddings. He may be contacted on 01636 892020.

Click The Peal Boards in North Collingham Church graphic to see the full picture.  Then click ===>> top left to return to story.

Nigel Priestley             October 2006

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