Cleobury Mortimer Bellringers

The Cleobury Mortimer Bellringers ring in the tower of Saint Mary’s Church and are members of the Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers in the Bridgnorth District. We practice on Tuesdays from 7pm until 8.30pm, where new ringers are always welcome!, and regularly ring for Sunday Church services from 9am. We also ring for Wedding and Funeral services as well as peals and quarter peals for other events.

During the winter months the church gate will be locked during the Tuesday Practice Night. Visitors wishing to join us on a Tuesday please ring the Tower Captain, Alec Osbaldiston on 01584 891351.

Bell Maintenance

From 16th January until the end of February the bells will be undergoing some much needed maintenance work, following recommendations arising from an inspection carried out in 2011, and as a consequence will be out of action for this period. This work includes:

• The removal of cast-in crown staples from bells 2-6 that should have been removed during the last major restoration of the bells in 1925.
• Re-hanging the bells on new ball bearings, adjusting the swing times to bring them into proper alignment.
• Restoration of the clappers by re-profiling the balls, adjusting the hanging radii and fitting new bushes.
• New slider running boards.
• Fitting a double pulley, drilling a new rope hole and removing the old rope guide for the 2nd to improve handling.

With the bells of out of commission for an extended period the Cleobury Mortimer Bellringers will be making use of what would otherwise be downtime for the ringers by visiting other towers in the area, such as Stoke St. Milborough, Chetton and Arley, and assisting them on their practice nights until the bells are restored.

Recent News

Last years annual outing on 3rd August took the Cleobury ringers to south Shropshire with rings at Hopton Heath, Wistanstow, Hope Bowdler, Church Stretton, Rushbury, Tugford and Stoke St. Milborough. A fun time was had by all before the band retired for a well earned barbeque, generously provided by the Stoke St. Milborough ringers.

• Prior to the Christingle service on Saturday 24th December a quarter peal of 1260 Stedman Doubles was rung.
• A quarter peal comprising a mix of Plain Bob and Grandsire Doubles was rung prior to The Lacon Childe School Carol Service by past and present pupils, a former member of staff and a member of the PTA on Wednesday 14th December.
• On Sunday 13th November a quarter peal comprising 60 Stedman Doubles, 480 Plain Bob Doubles and 720 Grandsire Doubles was rung half-muffled prior to the Service of Remembrance.
• A quarter peal of 1260 Grandsire Doubles was rung half-muffled on Friday 11th November for Armistice Day, in memory of those who died in the service of their country in time of war.
• A quarter peal of 1260 Plain Bob Doubles was rung on Sunday 9th October to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of The Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

The 250th anniversary of the re-casting of the bells was celebrated in 2007, including a peal of 5040 Doubles in 5 methods rung on the 8th December.

Tower History

The tower itself dates back to the late Norman period (c. 1160), although the spire itself is a later addition, and today houses a peal of six bells. The current peal of bells was re-cast in 1757 by Abel Rudhall of Gloucester (the date of the first casting is unknown). The ringing chamber also houses a pendulum clock dating back to 1772 which remains in operation and chimes the hour to this day.

The inscriptions, weights and pitches of the six bells are as follows:

1. Hark to our Melody. AR. 1757. (5.5cwt D#) [Treble]
2. Abel Rudhall cast us all, 1757. (6cwt C#)
3. Peace and good neighbourhood, A.R. (7cwt B)
4. J. Atwood, Vicar, 1757. (6cwt A#)
5. Richard Dorset, Will Oseland, Ch. War, A.R., 1757 (9.75cwt G#)
6. I to the Church the living call and to the grave do summon all. (13cwt F#) [Tenor]

The Ringers

Our local band is as follows:

• George Castledine
• Matthew Duley (Treasurer)
• David Eve
• Jonathan Fair
• Brian Gadd (Record Keeper)
• Chris Kippin (Steeple Keeper)
• Heather Kippin
• Edward Lupton
• Sarah Lupton
• Alec Osbaldiston (Tower Captain)
• Margaret Osbaldiston
• Alison Price
• Edward Purslow
• Ryland Robertshaw
• Diane Waddington
• Chris Walker
• Liz Walker (Tower Vice-Captain)
• Ray Wilson (Clock Keeper)

Useful Links

Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers

Central Council of Church Bellringers

The Ringing World

Campanophile

Cleobury Mortimer Peals on the Felstead Peals Database

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Tower Captain: Alec Osbaldiston, Threshers Barn, Angel Bank, Bitterley

• Tel. 01584 891351 or e-mail aosbaldiston [at] aol.com

Last Updated: Sunday 22nd January 2012

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