The church bells

15th-16th century: If you search for "bells" on this website (see the menu on the left for Search) you can find all the people who left bequests for the bells.

18th century: the Gibbs family of bellringers

1845-46: churchwardens' accounts including bell-related expenses; vestry decision about the expense of recasting one bell

1869: Vestry
George Maydon and T.P. Willis agreed "to pay for the ringing of the Church Bell at 7 o’clock in the morning during the Summer Months and 8 o’clock during the Winter Months – Morning and Evening also the 1 o’clock Bell daily"

1872: Vestry
It was also resolved that W. Jennings should in future collect the subscriptions for ringing the daily Bells and Winding the Clock and Chimes.

1874: Buckingham Express, 31 Jan
MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. [Queen Victoria's son Alfred]
The loyal little town of Winslow was quite merry on Saturday evening last, a capital peal in honour of the auspicious event above named having been rung on the fine full-toned bells, six in number, and again on Sunday morning and evening, instead of being chimed they were rung out, a joyous peal being rung as if the hearts of the ringers were in their work.  The ringing was the more commendable as most of the ringers are under 17 years of age.  The ringing was under the direction of Dr. Newham and Mr. H. Jennings.  The following are the ringers who have only commenced this season, J. Grace, E. Varney, G. Howse, W. Viccars, W. Philips, T. Hamp.

1884: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 24 Sep
  WINSLOW CHURCH BELLS.- In consequence of the critical condition of the Winslow church bells, an examination has been made of them by Messrs. Warner and Sons, bell founders, of London, who report that five out of the six of them are in danger of cracking at any moment, and require quartering; the bell frame too, is rotten.  They estimate the expense of a thorough overhauling at £165.  As all the available funds are now required for the church restoration, it has been decided to adopt a chiming apparatus for the present, and not to ring the bells.

1885: Bucks Herald, 25 July
DEDICATION OF THE BELLS.- The Church bells, which have been silent for about six months, were on Thursday last taken into use again, having been rehung and quartered with new frames, and placed higher in the tower.  The ringing chamber, which used to be at the back of the singing gallery, has also been placed considerably higher, being just underneath the bells, which are six in number, space being left for two more (which we believe it is intended to add when the funds are obtainable).  They bear the following inscriptions:- First bell: “Edward Hall made me, 1730.”  Second: “Rev. W. Mc Creight, vicar, 1846; Samuel Graves Dudley, Thomas Moorcroft, churchwardens: C. and G. Mears, founders, London.” Third: “Thomas Smallbone, John Godwyn Boller 1670.” Fourth: “1668.” Fifth: “1668.” Sixth: “John Gibbs, John Dudley, Thomas Ingram, churchwardens, 1777; Pack and Chapman, of London, fecit.” Saints’ Bell: “W. Lovnes, W. Giles, T. Tomlin-Gibbard-with benefactors-this Bel.”  A short dedication service was held in the afternoon, when the congregation had to mount the narrow winding stone steps to the bell chamber, where the service was conducted by the vicar, the choir singing a special hymn, “Lift them gently to the steeple; let our bells be set on high.”  After the service a party of the Oxford Diocesan Bell-ringers rang a set of changes, which were much appreciated by lovers of the art.  In the evening a special service was held at which the Rev. F. E. Robinson, vicar of Drayton, Berks, and Master of the Guild of Oxford Diocesan Ringers, preached to a large congregation.  A collection was made at the close on behalf of the tower restoration fund.

1886: Winslow Parish Magazine, June (written by Dr Newham, the editor; CBS, D-X/58) 
We in Winslow claim a pre-eminence in this ancient custom [tolling the curfew bell].  Our Church is venerable, and our Bells are probably among the oldest in this part of Buckinghamshire.  From the time they were dedicated to the service of God, it is very probable that the Curfew has sounded from our old Tower;  and, regularly as the Winter half-year comes round, the old sound peals forth as the relic of olden times.
    As is well known here we have another curious custom carried out in the tolling of the Passing Bell on the death of a Parishioner. At the death of an adult male the Great Bell tolls deliberately three times three strokes, and then passes on into the regular beat. In the case of adult females, the same Bell tolls three time two strokes, and then passes on to the usual time. The tolling for the death of children of either sex is carried out in precisely the same manner, but upon the Fifth Bell.  Our Bells are six in number. We have not heard of any other Parish where this custom prevails.

1887: Buckingham Advertiser, 14th May
The curfew bell is regularly rung at Winslow at eight o’clock each evening from Michaelmas-day to Lady-day.  The dulcet (?) tone of the pancake bell is also to be heard on each recurring Shrove Tuesday.  ... - A. C.

1902: customs concerning the bells

1902: Buckingham Advertiser, 8 Jan
  CHURCH BELLS.- A meeting of the Clergy, Churchwardens and Bell Ringers was held at the Vicarage, on Tuesday, October 14th, when Mr. G. H. Hall was elected “Leader” of the Ringers, and Mr. F. Lomas kindly agreed (for the present at all events) to fill up the vacancy in the number.  The rules were discussed with a view to amendment, and it is hoped that a revised set of rules will come into operation at the beginning of next year.  At the request of the Clergy, Churchwardens, the ringers agreed to ring (whenever possible) a full peal one each Sunday throughout the year, instead of - as heretofore - only once a month on Sundays, and twice a week on other days during the last quarter of the year.

1918: bells rung to celebrate the end of the First World War

1929: the bells were sent to Croydon to be recast (the photo shows them after they had been removed from the tower through the window).  They returned after two months and were rededicated at a service on 6 April

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1955: Buckingham Advertiser, 10 Dec

“Winslow Gave Me”
Bazaar for the Bells
Handbell Ringers : Many Novelties

WINSLOW turned up in full force on Saturday in a final flourish of enthusiasm to raise the outstanding amount required for their church bells.  The occasion was an enterprising bazaar in the Public Hall.

The Bells’ Inscriptions

On the previous Thursday Mr. F. Gibbard, Captain of the Ringers, with a party of colleagues of the Winslow tower and friends, had journeyed to Loughborough to see the two new Winslow bells cast in the foundry of Messrs. John Taylor & Co.  After witnessing this interesting operation, they had been conducted round the famous foundry.

The inscriptions on the bells are as follows: “In memory of Dorothy Lambton” and “The People of Winslow Gave Me” – P. Rudd, G. Ingram, Churchwardens, Rev. Canon St. J.H. Beamish, Vicar”.

Doctor Opens Bazaar

The story of the triumphant success of the Winslow Peal Appeal effort was told by Dr. P. Rudd, introduced by Mr. Hall (Secretary), at the opening of the bazaar.

Dr. P. F. Rudd, in declaring the sale open, said that he believed it was in March, 1954, that a fund was started to raise the money to hang two new bells in St. Laurence’s Church.  That this came about was due largely to the enthusiasm of the bellringers.  “These enthusiasts – led by Mr. Frank Gibbard and Mr. Hall – have never, since then, stopped working, begging, prodding, cajoling,” he said.  “They have pestered the life out of the Parochial Church Council.  Undismayed by the enormous sum of money required, by their admirable tenacity of purpose and great energy, they have never allowed the Bell Fund to lose its momentum.  Only two days ago – eighteen months after the fund was started – several of them went to Loughborough to see these great bells cast.”

“It is estimated”, said Dr. Rudd, “that for the bells, the bell-ropes and other things, and for the hanging of them in the tower, the sum of money required may be no less than £720.  That is a lot of money, yet today we are only some £60 short of the target.  That,” he continued, “is a wonderful achievement.  We are all grateful to the bellringers and their many helpers – all of us who enjoy the sound of the church bells.  I feel sure that Messrs. Gibbard and Hall and all their colleagues must feel much pride and satisfaction in their achievement.  I know they also feel very grateful to the people of Winslow.”

Winslow People’s Generosity

All the enthusiasm of the bellringers would have come to nothing were it not for the generosity of the people of Winslow.  He suspected it was because, as a whole, the people of Winslow took pride in their bells and enjoyed their music.  Whatever the reason, they had responded nobly.  They had given all they could afford, probably often more than they could afford, and some of them had given again and again.  The fund had received handsome cheques from the Winslow gymkhana, from the Parochial Church Council and many other sources. 

Many “unsung heroes” had worked hard in the cause.  All in all, it had been a most gratifying communal effort.

“That,” said Dr. Rudd, “is why it is so apt that one of the bells should be inscribed: ‘The People of Winslow Gave Me’.  Fitting, too, that on the other will be the name of Dorothy Lambton, who did so much for Winslow and its church; and I am glad to know that George Ingram’s name will be on those bells.  There is no-one amongst us who had served his church so regularly and for such a long time.  And our Vicar, too, his name will be there.  Canon Beamish has been associated with St. Laurence’s as curate and then as vicar, probably longer than any other incumbent in the church’s history; and yet, despite having ministered to us dreadful people all this time – (laughter) his energy and cheerfulness remain indestructible and, thank God, there is every evidence that he himself is indestructible, too.  (Applause.)

“Sincerely I thank you all who have given all these wonderful things for the Fayre;  all of you who have worked to make it possible.”  He thanked Major Verney for the gift of the magnificent Christmas tree.  He thanked them all for coming.

Next Thursday there should have been an organ and choral recital from which the fund had hoped to gain further help.  That had had to be postponed.  So they wanted that £60 now, there, that afternoon.  “Everything here is worth buying or worth playing at.  Have a go and give us all you have,” he said.  “The sooner I stop talking the sooner you can start spending.”  It was his pleasure to declare that grand Christmas Fayre open. 

The Christmas Tree

A gigantic Christmas tree, a-glitter with ornaments and heavily-burdened with toys and other tempting commodities, filled the stage and this was in charge of none other than Father Christmas, who was rightly or wrongly described by sceptics as Mr. Gordon Carpenter.  No-one would have denied, however, that Mrs. Carpenter was assisting.  Children and adults thronged around the tree buying tickets to share in its offerings.

Carols On the Bells

Appropriately for a bellringers’ bazaar, a team of handbell ringers paid a popular return visit and played Christmas carols beneath the Christmas tree.  They were Mr. Fred Sharpe and his team of girls from Launton, who have been on radio and TV.

Mr. Sharpe has a collection of over 150 handbells, the oldest going back to 1696.  He has collected relics, some of them from scrap-heaps and adapted them and tuned them for the use of the many teams whom he has trained.  Smart ringing and delightful shades of expression were heard from the dulcet-toned handbells on Saturday, a wide range of performance being given in the playing of “The Bells of St. Mary’s”, “Bluebells of Scotland”, Nursery Rhymes, “Bless This House”, “Bobby Shafto” and the Christmas carols, “Away in a Manger”, “Once in Royal David’s City”, “The First Nowell”, “In the bleak mid winter” (Gustav Holst) and “O come all faithful” [sic].

The names of the handbell ringers were Pat Ayris, Stephanie Gilpin, Rosalind Beiber, Elizabeth Sharpe and Fred Sharpe.

Chance to Win Bicycle

The stalls were full of good things, including home-made cakes, electric lamp stands and shades made by members of the ringers, beautifully-dressed dolls and a great variety of attractions.  There were several novelties, including “Batty-Batty”, a bottle tombola on the “Bunty pulls the strings” principle and a competition for a bicycle to be won by the competitor who guessed the selected boy’s Christian name in a book which soon became filled with guesses.

The following were the stalls and sideshows:  Tombola (including cycle competition), Miss Dancer, Miss Lucas, Mrs. Gerrish, Mrs. R. Gibbard, Miss Rita Gibbard, Miss Daphne Foskett; jumble, Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Spatcher;  home-made cakes, Mrs. Bratton, Mrs. Rudd;  produce, Mrs. Chowles;  needlework and novelties, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Foskett;  toys, Mrs. F. Bull, Miss Rita Hall, Miss Susan Beane;  spinning jenny, Mrs. F. Gibbard, Mrs. Head;  bottle stall, Miss Betty Gibbard; pin bagatelle, Nigel Hall;  batty-batty, Mr. Hall;  skittles (for bottle of sherry and half tea-service), Mr. S. Marriott, Mr, F. W. Bull;  admission, Mr. Rolfe and Mr. Newbury;  teas, Mrs, Stokes, Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Partridge, Mrs. Watson, Miss Osler.

The new cycle in the choosing boy’s name competition was won by E. M. Thomsett, Westside, Winslow.

Handwriting and Painting

The following were the results of a handwriting competition: - Over 7: 1, Ann Sellar; 2, David Bratton; commended (alphabetical order), Carol French, Ruth Hall, Anne Nash, Carol Rawlings, Dorothy Turner, Peter Walton.  7 or under: 1, William Turner; 2, Sheila Dickens; commended, Ruth Hollis.

Painting competition results were: 1, Richard Hammond; 2, Ruth Hall; commended (alphabetical order): Andrew Bratton, David Bratton, Carol French, Eric Hall, Leonard Illing, Terry Scott, Douglas Walker.

Best dressed doll competition: 1, Mrs. J Rawlings; 2, Mrs H. Foskett.

The very difficult task of judging the large number of entries in the three named competitions was very ably carried out by the Misses Austin, of Winslow.

Whist Drive

A very successful whist drive followed the Fayre, when 26 tables were in play.  Mr. W. Smith was M.C.   The following received prizes:  1, Mrs Mann;  2, Mrs. Gibbard;  3, Mr. Hawkins;  4. Mrs. Chowles;  5. Miss Holt;  6. Mr. Barnes;  7. Mrs. Firth;  8, Mrs. Richards;  9, Mrs. Parry;  10, Mr. Beard;  11, Mrs. Gerrish;  12, Mrs. Woolley;  13, Mrs. Heritags;  1st Half, Mrs. France; 2nd half, Mrs. Spatcher;  lowest score, Mrs. Langley.

WATCHING THE BELLS CAST
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT)

Last week proved rather an eventful one for St. Laurence’s Church and the bellringers in particular.  On Thursday of last week, several of the Winslow ringers, accompanied by Canon St. J. H. Beamish, and ringers from Great Horwood, Nash, North Marston, Wotton Underwood and Aston Clinton, spent a very interesting day at Loughborough bell foundry of John Taylor & Co.  After being conducted through the part of the foundry where the casts and cores are made, the great moment was awaited with surging expectancy and wonder as to how another page was about to be added to the history of Winslow Church, for as yet there appeared no outward and visible signs.

There were five casts, however, two of which had been chalked “Winslow”.  Interest was centred on four men standing near what looked like the entrance to a baker’s oven and then with a long wooden pole a vent was made in the wall of the oven revealing a brilliant orange glow.  Through this vent were thrown about ten ingots of pure tin and the vent was sealed again for a few more minutes.  A trough was then placed in position and a large cauldron underneath.  The wall of the oven was again removed so that the molten metal, a lovely orange colour, could trickle down into the cauldron.  This was lifted by an electrically-operated pulley system into position over the cast and the molten metal was gently poured into them.  It was gently stirred with an iron rod to bring all impurities to the top.  It takes eight days for the metal to cool before the bells start to go through the other processes in the foundry.

While on their way round, the party saw a newly-tuned peal of six from Yorkshire, a great bell of 3½ tons from Wigan and bells from the famous Cornish village of Helston.

The great foundry bell was set in motion for the benefit of the party and the visit to the foundry concluded with the ringers trying their skill on the light peal of ten bells in the foundry tower.  Incidentally, these were the bells on which a record attempt was made (to beat the world record number of changes) some months ago.

The Target Reached

On Saturday evening the Winslow ringers had the satisfaction of knowing that their target had been reached.  The day’s proceeds realised about £100.  They now look forward to the day when the two new bells cast on Thursday will be added to the existing six in Winslow Parish Church tower.

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2008: bells rehung by Whites of Appleton.

The bells are listed by Matthew Smith, Buckinghamshire Bells and Belfries (2019), as being inscribed as follows:

1. In memory of Dorothy Lambton. P.F. Rudd, G. Ingram churchwardens, 1955. John Taylor & Co. founders, Loughborough.
2. The people of Winslow gave me 1955
3. Edward Hall made me 1730. [recast by Gillett & Johnston, Croydon] St John H. Beamish vicar 1929. Norman McCorquodale, William H. Stevens churchwardens.
4. Rev. W.W. McCreight vicar 1848. Samuel Graves Dudley, Thomas Moorcroft churchwardens.
5. Thomas Smalbons, Iohn Godwyn, Charles Boller cw 1670 [cast by Richard Keene of Woodstock]
6. 1668
7. 1668
8. John Gibbs, John Dudley & Thomas Ingram churchwardens 1777. Pack & Chapman of London fecit.
9. Sanctus bell: Robert Atton made me 1611. W Lounes, W Giles, T Tomlin, I Gilburd, W Litch benefacturs for casting this bell

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• See also: St Laurence Bells on Winslow Benefice website