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The bells of our parish churches

Hear the sound of Sutton-on-the-Hill Bells.

Each of our parish churches has at least one bell to call the people to worship. Some of these have done so for many centuries. The oldest as far as we know is the single bell in the tower of All Saints, Trusley. It predates the present church by over 250 years, having been cast in York in about 1450 probably by John Hoton. Whilst it is cracked and in need of some repair and refurbishment in the near future, it still carries out its task regularly as it is chimed. For bellringers the bells of most interest are the four rings which are hung for true ringing in the traditional English style. To use the technical term correctly, the other bells can only be "chimed" not rung. St Michael’s, Church Broughton, St Chad's, Longford and St. Michael’s, Sutton-on-the-Hill each have six bells which are rung regularly for services. The band can be heard practising on Thursday evenings from 7.00p.m.. alternating week by week between the Sutton & Church Broughton churches. They welcome visiting ringers. Each Sunday the bells of at least Sutton-on-the-Hill, Church Broughton or Longford are rung for service. Occasionally, particularly at festivals there is also ringing at St. Andrew’s, Radbourne. St. Andrew’s has a ring of three bells.
Our band which rings the bells in each of these towers of the benefice was largely refounded in time to ensure that the bells were all rung to mark the beginning of the new millenium. Local bands rang quarter peals in each of the towers and bands augmented by ringers from across the diocese rang peals to mark the millenium. The Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers ensured that every tower in the diocese with bells capable of being rung in peal had both quarter peals and full peals during the millenium year.

Our band rings call changes  and some methods. We were delighted to win the Diocesan Cup in  the 6 bell Call Change Striking Contest a couple of years ago. The band has also been highly place in several recent years. This year a much less experienced band including three teenagers who had not rung in a competition before enjoyed the experience although their inexperience held them back. We hope that another year will show them ready to make a serious challenge.

If you would like to know more about our ringers or to join them either as a visitor or as a learner or experienced ringer, more detaila can be obtained by contacting them.
Email the ringers

St. John the Baptist's, Boylestone

St. John Baptist's has one bell. Details not to hand.

The bells of St. Michael & All Angels, Church Broughton

The Bells of All Saints, Dalbury

All Saints', Dalbury has two bells. The only available information is that both are modern: one was cast by Thomas Mears and the other by John Taylor (Loughborough 1870. There is a reference to two bells in a record of 1650. Presumably these bells were replaced or recast when the church was restored.

The Bells of St. Chad's, Longford

The Bells of Christ Church, Long Lane

The Bells of St. Andrew, Radbourne

The Bells of St. Michael's, Sutton-on-the-Hill

All Saints', Trusley