ST.MARY’S CHURCH BELLS UPDATE

Following their return to Builth the bells were displayed for a weekend in Church.before being lifted by crane and lowered through the tower roof into the belfry.

BELLS RESTORATION

CHURCH BELLS UPDATE
The bells were safely delivered to the Bell Hangers’ works in Appleton at the end of October and since then the bellringers have been busy preparing for their return.
Firstly we had to remove any remnants of the old bell fittings from the frame, this include very greasy and dirty bearing holders and the wooden runners allowing the bells to stop. Once these had been removed we then set about cleaning the Belfry, removing old wood, dirt and what seemed like piles of rubbish. We also started to clean out the room between the Belfry and the ringing room, which again seems to have many years of dust and debris in it.
To reduce the final bill from the Bell Hangers we had agreed to, not only do this, but treat the wooden frame as well. The first coat was completed recently with a 5 star wood treatment, which seemed to sink immediately into the wood.
What next? We have to finish clearing out the rubbish from the intermediate room, tidy and clean the ringing room and put another treatment on the frame, this will include painting the metal parts currently strengthening the frame.
We are planning to paint the ringing room, but until the roof repairs, stopping damp getting in, have been completed we are unable to do this.
The bells are due back in Builth for the weekend of 19th February with the crane returning to raise them back to the Belfry on Monday 21st February. The Bell Hanger will return that week and, with local help, put everything back together again, with the bells hopefully ringing out again at the beginning of March. The bells will be rededicated in a service of Choral Evensong on Sunday May 8th David Childs

 

St Mary’s Builth Wells

The town of Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales, nestles alongside the River Wye. The town has a population of about 2,500 people and as such is the smallest town in the UK to have it’s own Cinema (which actually has 2 screens and is also a theatre!!). Builth is a quiet town whose name you might recognise as it often appears on the BBC weather map. The town is probably best known today for the Royal Welsh Agricultural show, which is held annually just across the river in the neighbouring village of Llanelwedd.

The town certainly started life in Norman times with the building of a Motte and Bailey castle. After a turbulent history the castle was rebuilt in 1277, this time in stone, under the orders of Edward 1.

Under the shadows of the castle the town grew up and took its name from the church, which had been built outside the castle walls. The church was dedicated to St. Mary, as was the case wherever a Norman castle had been built. The town consequently became known as Llanfair ym Muellt - St. Mary's in the Cantref of Builth. Gradually the town grew in importance and size, so much so that in 1277 it was granted a Royal Charter by Edward I. The town name gradually evolved to it’s present day Welsh name Llanfair ym Muallt, The Church of St Mary in the area of ‘the wild ox of the wooded slope’

There was possibly a Church in Builth before this time and the church is listed in a taxatio of Pope Nicholas I in 1291. The town suffered a disastrous fire in about 1690 in which nearly all records were lost. The castle had, by this time, fallen into disrepair and the stone was used to rebuild the town. There is now only a castle mound remaining.

The tower is the oldest part of the Church remaining and as such is the oldest building in the town.

John Wesley came to Builth on several occasions to preach. He was a very popular preacher in the area and so many came to hear him that he had to preach in the Churchyard.

In the nineteenth century the main body of the Church was in a very poor state of repair and, in 1875, it was rebuilt to the North West of the tower, incorporating into the building the area where John Wesley preached.

The 6 bells in the tower were cast by John Rudhall in 1812. There are few mentions of the bells in records, but is was noted that in 1877 Ebenezer Prothero was paid 5 shillings for repairing a bell and D. Griffiths was paid £2 11 and 6 for ‘Clerk and ringing’

Looking through the available Church records, there are very few mentions of the bells and ringers however some other interesting facts came to light.
At the turn of the twentieth century major repairs to the church were done. An extra parish meeting had to be called as the faculty has not been applied for and this needed to be done retrospectively!
Interestingly the Bells were restored around this time and no mention of that work is in the minutes or the faculty application. 1904 saw the front 2 bells recast and the others rehung by Barwells of Birmingham at a cost of £103. After restoration the bells were reopened with a band ringing Grandsire Minor.

The ringers are thanked regularly from 1915 and interestingly during the war years, 1944-1948.
In 1952 the minutes read
‘ The Bellringers under Mr R.E. Sparkes were deserving of our thanks too, in their special task of calling people to church and reminding those who are slack that the worship of God still goes on’ !

In 1955 it was noted that the ringers now included some young ladies! Mr Sparkes was thanked again in 1956 for his long service ringing (since 1904) and a presentation was made to him. He died in 1966.

The only other mention in the records is the formation of the Bellringers association in 1980. This was a meeting of persons interested in the re-introduction of Bellringing at St Mary’s. Present at that meeting was Bert James who rang until ill health prevented him from doing so in about 2003. He sadly passed away at Christmas time 2007 aged 86, having been a ringer for some 60 plus years.

As mentioned earlier the bells were cast in 1812 and restored in 1904. The smallest 2 bells were recast without cannons but the back 4 retain the cannons. The bells are secured however with bolts through the crown rather than using the cannons. The Frame is probably original from circa 1812 and is not attached to the tower walls. There is a concrete sub frame around the base, which holds the frame and strengthens the tower. It is believed this was installed around 1964 when further tower repairs where carried out.

The details of the bells are as follows:
Bell Inscription Weight (Approx) Note
1 (Treble) Barwell Founder 3 1/4 Cwt F#
Birmingham 1904
(with Barwell crest)
2 As treble 3 1/2 Cwt E
3 John Rudhall Gloucester 4 1/4 Cwt D
Fect 1812
4 Fear God and Honour the 5 Cwt C#
King. J. Rudhall Gloucester
Fect 1811.
5 L.Lewis & T.Price Wardens 6 Cwt B
John Rudhall Gloucester
Fect 1812
6 (Tenor) These bells were cast at 8 Cwt A
Gloucester by John Rudhall
1812

Ringing has been intermittent over the years but since 4 or 5 ringers have moved to the area we now practice regularly on a Thursday, we have several new ringers and now ring for the Sunday services, weddings and special occasions.

The first peal on the bells was in September 1907 of Grandsire Doubles and the first peal by a local band in December 1910. There have only been 11 other peals.

The bells are becoming increasingly difficult to ring and some furniture beetle is evident in the headstocks and wheels. Most of the fittings are coming to the end of their ringable life. It was mooted in 1986 to have the bells placed on ball bearings at a cost of £6,000. However this was not proceeded with.

In November 2007 the ringers decided to approach the PCC with a view to having the bells restored. The intention is to have the bells, which will need to be lifted out of the roof of the tower, (as there are no trapdoors), retuned, turned and placed back in the original frame with new fittings.

The estimated cost of this work is in the region of £30,000. This is an onerous task for a small band of ringers in a small town but enthusiasm is high and the bells are a delight to the majority of local people and we are confident of the local people’s help and support. Offers are already being made for practical help and financial pledges. We aim to have the work completed in time for the 200th anniversary of the casting of the bells in 2012

Any donations to the appeal would be very welcome and further details can be obtained from David Childs, 33 Brecon Road, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3EB.

Visitors are always welcome to this beautiful part of Wales and we would love to see any ringers up the tower on a Thursday Evening from 7.45 or on a Sunday, normally at 9.00am (sometimes later depending on the service time).

David Childs

This article was written with reference to ‘The Church Bells of Breconshire’ by John C. Eisel

 

BUILTH WELLS St Mary, 6, 8cwt, SO039510

Sunday: 9.00-9.30. Practice: Thursdays 19.45-21.00

The six bells of St Mary's were cast in 1812 by Rudhall of Gloucester and
still hang in the original wooden frame high in the tower.

The 2 smallest bells were recast in 1904 by Barwell of Birmingham and the
other 4 bells were refurbished.

The frame stands in a concrete ring beam and is not attached to the tower
walls ! Some of the bells still have Canon retaining headstocks and they are
all on plain bearings.

The bells are now in need of refurbishment (if only all mechanical
appliances could last over 100 years!) and we are looking to restore them
for the 200th anniversary of the original casting.

We currently have an active band of ringers who practice regularly and ring
for Sunday service every week.

(Visitors please check the time of services as they sometimes vary and we
ring 1/2 hour before the service).

We are members of the Swansea and Brecon Diocesan Guild of Bellringers
For further information please contact the

Tower Captain David Childs Tel 01982 552477
Link for Swansea and Brecon Ringers
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/pckmj/sbdg/index.htm