The Bells at St Peter's Church
Clare McArdle is the Ringing Master
Peals at St Peter's: On Sunday 21 September in the afternoon there will be a peal attempt at Stedman Triples marking Father Jo's final day at St Peter's.
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The present set of bells were purchased in 1960 from the redundant church of Bishop Ryder in Deritend and were stored by Taylors of Loughborough until in 1963 they were installed in the tower. The ring of eight bells were dedicated on 2 March 1963 and the peal is in the key of F sharp. The tenor bell weighs nearly 13cwt.
The bellringers meet every Monday at 7.30 pm for practice night. We also ring before Evensong every Sunday. It takes quite a long time to learn to ring and we have ringers of all different abilities at St Peters. We have long held a reputation as a good teaching tower as we have many experienced ringers. For the last 3 years the St Martins Guild (an association to which all churches in the Birmingham diocese with bells are affiliated) have held their “Training Day” at St Peters. We have also recently had a computer simulator installed so that teaching can be done at any time without disturbing the neighbours. Ringing is a very sociable activity. Each year we go on an outing to different churches to sample their bells. We also organise a Christmas social event. Many of the ringers at St Peter's are from other neighbouring churches – we all help each other out. If we didn’t there probably wouldn’t be enough ringers to go round! So we are a band comprised of ringers who ring at, Smethwick, Northfield, Shirley and Birmingham Cathedral. You will hear the bells ringing on Saturdays, especially through the summer months, for weddings. We are happy to ring for any special occasion if requested. In return a donation for our Tower Fund, for the upkeep of the bells, would be gratefully accepted. If you want to find out any more about bellringing, contact: Clare McArdle. (contact information can be obtained via the parish office - see St Peter's Team page)
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6 Ringers taking a rest |
Bellringers' Summer Outing |
The Church Clock
The present clock was made by Leeson of Coleshill in 1877. It strikes the hours, chimes Westminster Quarters and shows time on two 5 foot diameter flat copper dials, one over the West door and the other on the north side.
The original weights were housed in a small shaft leading down to the church porch below but the pendulum and escarpment were removed and the clock was converted in 1973 by Smith’s of Derby to operate using a synchronised motor for the Going train and direct electric drive motors for the Strike and Quarters.
It has been serviced by the Derbyshire based clock maker/repairer Richard Blackwall since 1999.
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