Bell ringing

Church bellringers

Church bellringers, taken before the 1st World War.

Dick Oke, John Bond, Charlie Binmore, Tom Gilbert, Richard Collacott.

Bell ringing has been a feature of Church and village life.

Apart from ringing for Church services and to celebrate festivals and National events, the ringers have been members of the Devonshire

Guild of Bellringers and the Tamar Valley Guild of Bellringers.


church bells were re-hung in 1936

The church bells were re-hung in 1937

Back Row: Miss Mitchell, Mrs. Bartlett, Mrs. G. Trewin, Miss K. Moase.

Third Row: Mrs. Downing, Mrs. W. Oke, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. H. Harris, Mrs. R. Jennings, Mrs. W. Cole, Mrs. S. Oke, Mrs. A. Slee.

Second Row: Mrs. R. Collacott, Mrs. J. Bond, Miss Phylis Wonnacott, Mrs. W. Slade, Mrs. F. Slee, Miss M. Balston, Mrs. S. Routley, Mrs. R. Prouse.

Front Row: Miss J. Vanstone, Mrs. W. Short, Miss M. Slee, Miss M. Cornish.

In the early part of the century Mr. Richard Westaway Oke was the Tower Captain for many years.

He was succeeded by Mr. Richard Grills Collacott.

The Captains in more recent years have been Mr. Tom Prance, Mr. Fernley Petherick and Mr. Kenneth Johns.


team of lady bellringers

A team of lady bellringers photographed in the late 1950's.

Richard Collacott with Ann Wright, Maureen Yeo, Harriet Birch, Janet Plummer and Jean Birch.

In 1902 a new treble bell was installed, making a peal of six.

In 1937, at a cost of £128, the bells were restored at Taylors, Loughborough and re-hung on ball bearings.


Our six bells have been safely lowered to the ground and are now standing outside the tower door. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to read the inscriptions on the bells.

The inscription on the tenor bell reads as follows:- I to the church the living call, and to the grave do summon all. A.R. 1757.

The others are inscribed as follows (reading downwards from the tenor)

5: Prosperity to this parish. A.R. 1757.
4: Peace and good neighbourhood. A.R. 1757.
3: We were all cast at Gloucester by Abel Rudhall, 1757.
2: Taylor Fecit, Oxford.
1: Mears and Stainbank, Founders, London. Fear God, Honour the King. A.D. 1902, W.T. Wellacott, Vicar, J. Bennett and T. Rowtcliff, Churchwardens. (June 1937)


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