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

South Collingham

The five bells in this tower 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 6^th 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 6^th 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 On 

On Monday January 24^th 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:- 

Anne Harris.                Treble                          Simon Humphrey           4

Ian V J Smith               2                                  John R Pratchett            Tenor

George A Dawson     3 (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

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