Record of Events
THE BELLS
In the November number of the Magazine twelve months ago we
recorded the death of Colonel Charles Kenrick Crosse. In the corresponding number for this year, we
put on record the noble gift of a ring of eight bells, together with a tablet
of white marble mounted on Devonshire marble, containing the following
inscription:
“To the glory of God and in affectionate memory of Charles
Kenrick Crosse (Lient-Colonel) a ring of eight bells is presented to this
Church by his brothers and sisters. October, 1910. Born 10th February, 1832, served
in 52nd Light Infantry,
1850-1869, including the Indian Mutiny and siege and capture of Delhi,
1857. Died, 19th October,
1909.”
which is placed in the Chancel on one of the Tower piers.
The work of erection began on Wednesday, Sept, 28th. Almost the first thing done was the
disconnection of the clock, and for three weeks it was still, during that time
many an eye, by force of habit, was cast up to see the time. The fact of the stoppage has caused us all to
realize more keenly what a boon the clock has been to the Parish. From that time, from early morning until late in the evening, work went on in the
Tower. The parishioners watched with the
greatest possible interest the arrival of the heavy steel girders, then the
iron erections on which to swing the bells, and last of all the bells
themselves. The easy fashion in which these
large masses of metal, three of the girders weigh 16cwt each, and the tenor
bell is over a ton, were handled seemed to us, unused to such sights, little
less than marvellous, for the whole tackle for raising them into the tower
consisted of nothing more than a small crab, some pulleys, and a stout rope. Of course the old bell had to be removed at
the first stage, and it seemed very strange to us to have our services on two
Sundays without any summons. Some of us
rather wondered whether all could be ready for dedication on the day appointed,
viz, Saturday, October 15th.
However, everything went on apace with wonderful precision, and by the
night of Thursday, 13th, the bells were ready for ringing, various
smaller jobs in the belfry were done on the Friday, and Saturday morning the
whole was tidied up ready for the service at 2-30. Shortly before 2-0 o’clock the Leyland
Ringers came and had a practice with tied clappers just to get the feel of the
bells before service. Before the time
the Church was packed to overflowing,
the Church Officers said there had never been such a congregation before,
certainly large numbers of people were unable to find admission. Promptly at 2-30 the service began. During the singing of the first hymn, the
Churchwardens followed by Miss Crosse, Mrs. R L Crosse, Mr. Hugh Crosse and
Capt. Arthur Crosse, they in turn followed by the clergy, The Revs.F H Powell,
LBaldwin, the Vicar and the Lord Bishop of Whalley, proceeded to the Ringing
Chamber, where the Bishop solemnly dedicated the bells to the honour and glory
of God, and in the memory of Colonel Charles Kendrick Crosse, and handed them
over to the charge of the Vicar. As a
return was made to the Church the Leyland Ringers rang a short touch of about
five minutes, and the bells were heard for the first time. Some members of the congregation said that
the first sound of them in Church was quite thrilling. The Bishop then gave an address. As, fortunately for us, this is to be
published, there is no need to say more about it here, than how admirably
suited it was to the occasion.
Afterwards a collection was taken on behalf of St. Elphin’s Clergy
Daughters’ School, Darley Dale, which
realized £8 5s 0d. Unfortunately quite a
number of people came unprepared for a collection. After service the Leyland men rang in
splendid fashion until shortly before 5 0’clock, when together with our own
ringers and the choir they went to tea at the Bay Horse, this was provided by
the donors of the bells. The proceedings
were presided over by Mr. Anthony Marsden and Mr. Lane. A most grateful vote of thanks to the donors,
for their magnificent gift and kind hospitality was passed, and the Vicar was
desired to forward it to the proper quarter.
It ought to have been mentioned earlier that the day’s
proceedings began with a Celebration of Holy Communion at 8-0 a.m., when there
were 29 communicants.
Shortly after 6-0 o’clock , a mixed band of ringers
including the Rev. H. J. Elsee, Vicar of St. George’s Bolton, under the
conductorship of Mr. A.B. Knights, of Leyland began a peal, and brought it to a
successful conclusion at 9-35. Mr.
Knights is one of the band who at Loughborough, on April 12th, 1909,
rang the record peal of 18,027 changes in 12 hours 18 minutes. Mr. Elsee is one of the greatest authorities
on bell ringing, and he expressed the greatest possible satisfaction with the
bells. So the long expected and long
desired day came to an end.
The donors gave their gift for the Glory of God and as a
memorial of a dearly loved brother, and so partly for the satisfaction of their
own feelings. Nevertheless it will be
gratifying to them to know that what they have done has given the greatest
possible pleasure to the Parish at large.
A chiming apparatus has been installed; this will come in very
usefully for the early Celebrations and for the weekday services. Also there is a silent practising apparatus,
no doubt this will be a boon, without it there would be a great deal of jangled
sound while the ringers are practising changes.
The following particulars concerning the bells will be of interest, and
ought to be put on record. They were
cast by Messrs. John Taylor and Co., Loughborough, and their dimensions, notes
and net weights, without the headstocks or clappers, are as follows:
No. Diameter Note Weight, - cwt, qrs. Lbs.
1 2ft 5in E
Flat 5 1 25
2 2ft 6in D 5 2 14
3 2ft 8 ½ in C 6 3 1
4 2ft 11in B
Flat 8 0 0
5 3ft 2 ¼ in A
Flat 9 2 10
6 3ft 4in G 10 3 18
7 3ft 8 ½ in F 14 3 11
8 4ft 2 3/8 in E Flat 21 1 23
--------------------------
81 2 18
The inscription
on the tenor bell is:
To the Glory of God and in Memory of
Charles Kenrick Crosse
October
1910
And on the
others:
In Mem : C. K.
C. Oct 1910
The bells have a beautifully mellow, sonorous tone, there is
none of the clashing sound so often heard;
this no doubt is due to the fact that each bell is in perfect tune with
itself and with all the others. They are
said to “go” perfectly.
Whilst our hearts are so full of thankfulness
and joy over this latest benefaction to the Parish, let us remember its
spiritual use and purpose. The sound of
the Church Bells will remind us of the worship we owe to Almighty God in His House,
and will recall the memory of the one who, in his day and generation,
faithfully served his God, his country and his fellow creatures. ‘The memory of the just is blessed’
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