Exhall

St Giles 6: 6-2-6 in B

Grid Reference 140/340850 Exhall. Source: Mike Chester
Postcode CV7 9AB
Affiliation Coventry DG
Peals Felstead Database
Sunday 0900-0930
Practice Thursday 1930-2100 (Ex 3rd)
Other Information Church Website

History

An old church that is visible from Junction 3 of the M6 – not that it is too easy to get to it from there! Take the A444 towards Coventry. At the first roundabout, near The Ricoh Arena, turn right and take the last exit, signposted to Prologis Park. There are traffic lights almost immediately – straight on. At the next set of lights turn right and then go straight on, past The Hungry Horse Pub, for 6/700yds or so and then turn right towards the church, down Vicarage Lane – look for the signpost to direct you!

It consists of a square-ended chancel with vestry attached on the north side, nave, north and south aisles, and western tower; there is a small south porch. The nave contains three bays, and two timber roof trusses divide the chancel into three bays. The nave and chancel appear to originate from the 13th century, although the nave has been rebuilt in modern times, when extensive restorations were carried out to the chancel also. The tower appears to have been added in the 14th century, and subsequent additions have been recorded on a tablet under the window of the west wall of the north aisle which states that the north aisle was added in 1609 ‘as the burial place of the Hales family’, the south aisle in 1842, and the vestry, with an extension of the north aisle, in 1885.

The church is thriving and is one of the few around the area with a top class choir. It even has a deputy organist! The bells are an easy going six. The three Smith of Edgbaston bells, cast in 1706 were recast and rehung, still as a three but in a 6-bell frame, at the beginning of the 20th century by James Barwell, and dedicated by the Bishop of Coventry on 21 December 1900. The Smith inscriptions were repeated on the new bells. The following appeared in “Bell News” on December 29th 1900:

Exhall Bell News 1900

The bells’ inscriptions are given by Tilley and Walters in their book, “The Church Bells of Warwickshire”

Exhall Inscriptions
Exhall Inscriptions

On installation, these bells were intended to be the front three of a heavier ring of six (tenor c.10 cwt in G). Some 20 years later they were indeed augmented to six as a memorial to those that fell in WWI. The 1900 scheme was modified in 1920 and two trebles and a tenor were added instead of three tenors, the 1900 treble being retuned down a semitone, (according to some sources now weighing 4-0-14; 4-1-14 was said to be the original weight.). The treble and second hang in pits of the 1900 frame intended for much larger bells and their headstocks are very long. The tenor bell was cast without canons, and the five smallest bells have ‘Doncaster heads’.

The augmented ring of 6 was dedication on Armistice Day 1920 and was reported in The Ringing World of December 3rd:

Exhall 1920

The first peal on the bells was rung on the day of their dedication:

Exhall First Peal

The composite frame remains that installed by Barwell 1900. The fittings are also of 1900 and 1920, with ball bearings fitted when the bells were rehung, the 4th bell’s headstock being replaced, by Mears & Stainbank, in 1957. The latter work was reported in The Ringing World of January 28th 1958:

Exhall RW 1957

This appeared in The Ringing World of July 3rd 1970 , “Mrs. Beamish, president of the Coventry Guild, informs us that a £10,000 legacy has been left to St. Giles’ Parish Church, Exhall, Warwick, for the bells, and an augmentation from six to eight is one of the jobs anticipated.” The scheme to recast the bells and augment to 8 was again mentioned, The Ringing World reported on an article that appeared in The Birmingham Post on 2nd January 1971.  It was followed up in an article in the edition of February 19th 1971:

AN EIGHT FOR EXHALL?
The parish magazine for Exhall (Coventry) Parish Church has in two of its recent issues carried articles about the possible restoration and inauguration to eight of its present ring. The latter would cost up to £3,000, and the vicar (Rev. A. Rowland-Smith) states that he is delighted to meet the challenge, for the bells are an important part of church life. . . they inform the parish that the clergy are busy with intercessory prayer on their behalf.
Originally Exhall had three bells cast by Joseph Smith of Edebaston in 1706. Recast in 1900 by Barwells, two trebles and a tenor were added in 1920 as a war memorial. In 1957 Whitechapel overhauled and rehung the bells on roller bearings, and now Taylors have inspected, advised and estimated on necessary and essential work.
“We have a fine team of ringers under David Harrison (captain) and they would be overjoyed if we could aspire to a fine ring of eight bells,” writes the vicar, and he appeals to all who can to help, for, being a small parish, it will be no easy task to raise the money.”

This, of course, did not happen.

Other relatively minor work was completed by Taylors in the early 1990s, including the replacement of the tenor bell’s headstock.

The entrance is by the main South Door. There is a church car park on the opposite side of the road.

Details of the Bells

1 Mears & Stainbank, London       1920  3-0-25  23.50″  1645.5Hz (G#-16c)
2 Mears & Stainbank, London       1920  3-2-23  25.25″  1453.5Hz (F#-31c)
3 James Barwell & Co, Birmingham  1900  4-1-14  27.00″  1308.5Hz (E-14c)
4 James Barwell & Co, Birmingham  1900  4-2-20  28.50″  1228.0Hz (D#-23c)
5 James Barwell & Co, Birmingham  1900  5-2-14  30.50″  1086.5Hz (C#-35c)
6 Mears & Stainbank, London       1920  6-2-06  33.00″   966.0Hz (B-39c)

Inscriptions

1 M & S. LONDON Whitechapel trade mark)
Waist:
A.D. 1920. 
2 M & S. LONDON (Whitechapel trade mark)
Waist:
A.D. 1920.
3 BARWELL FOUNDER BIRMINGHAM RECAST 21 DECR A.D. 1900
Waist:
IOSEPH SMITH IN EDGBASTON MADE MEE 1706
Opposite:
CHAS SIMMONDS M.A. VICAR
FRANCIS DUCK    }
JOSEPH FLETCHER }CHURCHWARDENS
4 BARWELL FOUNDER BIRMINGHAM RECAST 21 DECR A.D. 1900
Waist:
1706 MR RICHARD SMART AND RICHARD RANDEL
CHURCHWARDENS
Opposite: (As third exactly)
5 BARWELL FOUNDER BIRMINGHAM RECAST 21 DECR A.D. 1900
Waist:
1706 I WILL SOUND AND CALL THE CONGREGATION
Opposite: (As third exactly)
6 MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON(Whitechapel trade mark)
Waist:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF EXHALL,
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918
SUBSCRIBED BY PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS.
A.D. 1920.

(The Whitechapel trademark has the initials AAH and RAH, and “AD 1570 AD 1920” around it, as these bells were cast in the 450 anniversary year of the foundry.)

Most of the information on this page has been provided by Chris Pickford.

Photo Gallery

Exhall East. Source: Mike Chester Exhall West. Source: Mike Chester
The church – looking east The church – looking west
Exhall Sanctuary. Source: Mike Chester Exhall Choir. Source: Mike Chester
The Sanctuary The fine choir stalls
Layout 6.4
The frame layout