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Margaretting, St Margaret This church has a peal of 5 bells. The back four bells form the oldest set of bells in the county. The Tenor bell, cast by an unknown founder, was reputed to be cast in the early 1300's
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The present treble bell was added in 1996 as a memorial bell to George Eve, a past Secretary of the Essex Association.
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The bells go well. They are rung from the Ground Floor, with a 25ft draught, but with guide at about 18ft. We ring behind the organ screen, which secludes us from the church. The difficulty with the bells is that 2,3,4 and 5 fall in a near straight line, with the new Treble on the opposite side of the tower. The screen and organ ladder won a prize for the best design in the county! |
Margaretting Church is renouned locally for its wooden tower, which is an excellent example of a typical Essex tower. The ringing room area is full of all the wood, and cross bracings, which is possibly unique.
We have an active local band with 11 ringers. Michael + Jennie Scott, Patricia Taylor, Peggy Leech, Pat Stone, Sue + Bev Keeble, Lorraine Podlesny, Pam Norrington, Tony Williams, and John Taylor.
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Doubles stage, and a couple of them are ringing PLain hunt competantly We ring on a Monday Night 7:45 to 9:00. and Sunday Service ringing is at
9:20 - 9:45. The photo shows the bells in their wooden frame. The treble is in the foreground (the shiny one!), the 2nd is to the left. the 3 + 4 are at the back and the tenor is out of the picture. Looking carefully, you may be able to make out the inscription on the treble, showing 1996, Whitechapel, with the founders crest. |
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Some Mondays we go to visit Fryerning Church, as they have 6 bells. Since the local contact has given up, the Margaretting ringers how have complete access to Fryerning tower, so all ringing at Fryerning is arranged through the Margaretting contact.
As this is the case, please telephone the Bell Captain, Michael Scott, on (01277) 354821
As the bells were only augmented in Sept 1996, The ringers have taken a while to get used to the fifth bell, but now are getting more confident with their new bell.
We do encourage visitors to come along, and we also like to see learning visitors from other towers. We do see 2 visitors from Downham frequently, and our Warwick University student is now a full member of the tower (having finished at the university). You will be made to feel welcome whatever stage in ringing you are at.
If you would like to ring here, or join us one practice night, please phone the Captain, or find his contact address in the Essex Association Annual Report
Last updated 26/08/01