Wye - Bell Ringers
The first record of bells at Wye Church dates from 1572, the year the tower was destroyed by a lightning strike. The bells were severely damaged and re-cast by Robert Dodds, an itinerant bell founder. Those bells proved to be unsatisfactory so in 1593 a new ring of five bells was obtained from Whitechapel Bell Foundry. A sixth bell was ordered sometime later.
Nearly a century later disaster struck the church again when the tower collapsed. By 1709 the tower had been re-built and the bells re-hung in a new frame, a beam of which with the inscription John brovmfield made this frame 1709·is preserved in the ringing chamber. The six bells were augmented to eight in 1734 and in 1736 a peal of 5040 changes was rung by a local band, an event that is commemorated by a peal board in the ringing chamber. In 1774 an new ring of eight bells was cast by Pack and Chapman four of which remain as part of the present ring.
Towards the end of the 19th Century the 1709 frame and bell fittings were beginning to show their age. A partial rehang was carried out by John Warner & Sons in 1895-96 during which the second and third bells were recast. In 1914 a major overhaul was undertaken by the same firm during which a new steel frame and bell fittings were installed and the sixth bell was recast. The new 1914 frame had spaces for ten bells but the Great War and its successor put off any consideration of an augmentation. In 1998 this plan was put into action and it was taken on as a Millennium Project for Wye. At about the same time, sadly, the Church lost three members whose families wished to mark their memory in some way. When it was suggested that they could assist with the augmentation, they embraced the proposal enthusiastically and the donations helped materially in covering the cost. Two new trebles were cast and installed by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in May 1999.
Visitors from other churches are welcome on Friday which is practice night, to ring or observe, or if you are interested in learning to ring, please contact John Mansfield on 812027 or Mary Lambert on 812519.