St Peter’s tower has three bells cast in Bronze. The second and tenor bells are included on the Churchcare (previously Church Buildings Council) list for preservation. The three bells are in the key of B Major (relative to A=440Hz).
The Treble bell (number one) has an estimated weight of about 3 cwt. It has the raised inscription: DANIEL HEDDERLEY MADE ME 1729. It sounds note D# at 1229.0Hz.
The Second bell has an estimated weight of about 5 cwt. It has the raised inscription: FILI DEI MISERERE MEI 1628. This bell was cast by William Oldfield I of Doncaster. The translation of the inscription is God Have Mercy on Me. It sounds note C# at 1058.0Hz.
The Tenor bell (number three) has an estimated weight of about 7 cwt. It has the raised inscription: GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO. This bell was cast by Ralph Heathcote III in around 1560-1570. The Heathcote family cast bells in Chesterfield. The translation of the inscription is Glory to God In the Highest. It sounds note B at 981.5Hz.
The bells are hung for full-circle change ringing in a long-headed timber frame with jack braced trusses. All hang side by side in a line in the top room of the tower called the Bell Chamber. They all swing in the east/west direction, with the tenor in the centre, the treble to its north side and the second to its south side. The bell frame dates from the 18th century. It would have been made locally and assembled in the tower. It has long-headed jack braced trusses with additional end posts. All the joints are held in place by dowels, no bolts and metal plates. The whole frame structure rests on three large transverse oak foundation beams spanning the tower from wall to wall in the north south direction.
The bells are rung by trained bell ringers from a room in the tower called the Ringing Chamber. Access is by a stone spiral staircase from inside the church.
We welcome enquiries from visiting teams of ringers, please email [email protected]
St Peter's is a heritage ring, full-circle ringing is limited to short duration only at present. usually around 15 minutes.
