Rehanging the bells Phase 4 – Ropes and Ringing

Graham Clifton and James Haseldine from Whites of Appleton Ltd. Church Bellhangers came back for two days at the start of August to complete the work on the bells fixtures. 

Work started using spare ropes from Reymerston. These were swapped to our new Barnham Broom ropes before the test ring took place at 1pm on Thursday 2^nd August. 

Graham and James were joined for the test ring by Jill and Keith Tinsey and a group of expert local bell ringers including Peter Trent, the former Diocesan Bell Adviser. Five of our trainee ringers also had an opportunity to ring the bells. 

Peter Trent and our rector, Revd. Dr. Tim Weatherstone both rang all 5 bells via the Ellacombe Chime.

Spare Reymerston ropes fitted in the completed Guide Frame

The Ellacombe Chime ropes in the ringing chamber and silence chamber















Our ropes are fitted and a spot of dusting before the paint is touched up on the Guide Frame















The test ring started with the expert ringers












Then the trainee ringers under the watchful eyes of the experts















The Ellacombe Chime using the hammers above

















Bells and ropes in working order

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More pictures can be found in our Facebook Album

Rehanging the bells Phase 4 – Ropes and Ringing

https://www.facebook.com/pg/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1375831612561171

on our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/

JULY 2018 UPDATE

At the start of July, our bells were returned to Barnham Broom. Over two 2-day periods, Graham Clifton, first with James Haseldine and then carpenter James Sellick from Whites of Appleton Ltd. Church Bellhangers, were joined by volunteers to help raise and fix the bells into place. After a visit to the school, all five bells were raised on the first day.  Our bells, wheels, clappers, pulleys and Ellacombe Chime frame and hammers are now all in place. 

The wooden rope guides in the silence chamber are fitted, work on the frame for the rope guides in the ringing chamber is well underway and the muffles, needed for Remembrance Sunday, have been handed over.

While work was going on in the bell tower, other volunteers helped with refreshments and lunches, cleaning and polishing around the church, making room for the Bells Appeal Marquee, raising the Heritage Lottery fund banner and decorating the church with the bells and bell frames created by the schoolchildren ready for the school service. 

Our thanks to all the volunteers for their help and support.

Meanwhile work is continuing around the church and planning is taking place for the rededication of our bells in October.

2016 Duck Race

Planning for our village fete is also well underway. As well as the stalls, food & drink, games and attractions, there will be bell ringing with the Carter Campanile. Ducks for the duck race will go on sale in advance at Barnham Broom Post Office and Stores or buy them on the day.

Please do join us for the Barnham Broom Village Summer Fete on Sunday 19th August 2018 1pm to 5pm at The Mill House.

School Bells on display

While work was going on in the bell tower, the bells and bell frames created by the schoolchildren were used to decorate the church ready for the school service. The public have a chance to see them at the 9.30 Morning Worship service on Sunday 15th July.

Rehanging the bells Phase 3 – Rope Guides

Graham Clifton and carpenter James Sellick from Whites of Appleton Ltd. Church Bellhangers were joined over a 2-day period by volunteers to work on the Rope Guides, pulleys and Ellacombe Chime, as well as fitting the remaining clappers. Other volunteers helped with refreshments and lunches and cleaning and tidying the church.

The two adjusted clappers return along with the hammers for the Ellacombe Chime. The muffles, needed for Remembrance Sunday, are handed over.

The frame for the rope guides being fitted in the ringing chamber.

Cleaning, polishing and tidying in the church.

In the silence chamber, rope guides are put into place.

The Ellacombe Chime frame is fitted in the ringing chamber while the hammers are fitted in the belfry.

The two adjusted clappers are fitted as well, along with the pulleys (behind the clapper in the picture).

Ready for the next stage.

More pictures can be found in our Facebook Album

Rehanging the bells Phase 3 – Rope Guides

https://www.facebook.com/pg/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1350706345073698

on our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/

Rehanging the bells Phase 2 – Raising the bells

With new beams fixed in, bearing plates fitted and the belfry and silence chamber cleaned, phase 2 of the rehang is to return the bells to the belfry.

Graham Clifton and James Haseldine from Whites of Appleton Ltd. Church Bellhangers were joined over a 2-day period by volunteers to help raise and fix the bells and wheels. Other volunteers helped with refreshments and lunches, cleaning around the church, making room for the Bells Appeal Marquee and raising the Heritage Lottery fund banner.

The belfry ready to receive the bells, with new beams fixed in and bearing plates in place. 

New wheels and clappers arrive as well as the bells.

Not just work on the bells taking place.

Bells and wheels all go up on the first day.

Some are fitted by the end of day 1.

Fixing them all in takes both days. 

More pictures can be found in our Facebook Albums

  

Rehanging the bells Phase 2 – Raising the bells Day 1 am

https://www.facebook.com/pg/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1339135302897469

Rehanging the bells Phase 2 – Raising the bells Day 1 pm

https://www.facebook.com/pg/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1339146852896314

Rehanging the bells Phase 2 – Raising the bells Day 2

https://www.facebook.com/pg/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1340127312798268

on our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/barnhambroomchurchbellsappeal/

MAY/JUNE 2018 UPDATE

We have been working on several tasks that need completing for the rehanging of our bells. At the end of April, we raised funds by offering three of the 125 year old Barnham Broom Church Bell Wheels for sale locally. These were snapped up very quickly. In May, a team of volunteers led by Graham Clifton from Whites of Appleton Ltd. Church Bellhangers strengthened the oak bell frame with new steel beams, angle brackets, ties and rods in preparation for the return of the bells. A spring clean around the church took place at the same time.  In June, Whites returned to fit bearing plates to the bell frame. There was also a spring clean of the Bell and Silence chambers by a working party of volunteers, ready for the bells to be raised in July.

As well as planning for the return of our bells, we are also turning our attention to planning for the re-dedication service in October. A thank-you letter has been sent out to our sponsors. The Order of Service and Invitations are being designed and a site visit to help plan the event took place at the start of June.

Garveston

On Spring Bank Holiday Monday, some of our trainee bell ringers joined in the Reymerston Ringers Outing. They visited 4 churches the ringers are associated with:  All Saints Shipdham, St Margaret's Garvestone, St Peter’s Yaxham and All Saints Mattishall. Each church provided an opportunity to ring their 6 bells.

At the same time as planning the Barnham Broom Village Summer Fete in aid of the Bells Appeal, our Events team are continuing their work on bringing the community together in fundraising events that will benefit the village. The recent "Afternoon Tea and Open Garden" raised £390 for the Memorial Garden. Our thanks to all who supported this.

We hope to see you all at the Barnham Broom Village Summer Fete on Sunday 19th August 2018 1pm to 5pm at The Mill House and our re-enactment of the history of the Church and bells on Saturday 6th October at the Church.

Please do put these dates in your diaries.