Ipsley

St. Peter 6: 9-2-13 in Ab

Grid Reference 150/066666 Ipsley. Source: www.redditchpast.co.uk
Postcode B98 0TD
Affiliation Worcestershire & Districts
Peals Felstead Database
Sunday By Arrangement
Practice Friday 1930-2100
Other Information Parish Website

History

Historically this tower was in Warwickshire, though now it is in Worcestershire, and this is the reason for its inclusion in this website. The parish used to be split between Warwickshire and Worcestershire, but boundary changes over the years have moved it around! It was entirely in Warwickshire between 1894 and 1931, but has been in Worcestershire since then.

The church consists of a chancel, nave, formerly with aisles, and a west tower. The church was very thoroughly restored in 1867, when the aisles were destroyed and the arcades walled up, but evidence remains that the south aisle was of the 13th century and the north aisle, and probably the chancel, of the 14th century. The west tower was added in the 15th century.

These were previously a ring of three which had been ringable until after War II. When Chris Pickford first saw them in 1969 the frame and fittings had been removed and the three old bells were lying on their sides in the bell chamber “awaiting restoration”.

They were hung in Taylor lowside frame and fittings in 1971 and augmented to become a ring of 6.  They have cast iron headstocks and the “normal” fittings for the time. The cracked tenor was recast. The four new bells have impressions of 50 pence pieces cast into them. The two old bells, which have been quarter turned, retain their canons, whilst the new bells were cast with “flat tops”.  The fourth is a “Royal Heads” bell, having images of a king and queen in the inscription.

The work was briefly reported in  The Ringing World of July 2nd 1971~

“Ipsley (Worcs.) bells have just been installed, the work of rehanging and augmenting from three to six having been carried out by Messrs. John Taylor and Co. The old tenor was recast and the present 4th and 5th, dating from 1420 and 1664 respectively, retuned and quarter – turned and, due to a very generous loan, the three trebles added to complete the six. The festival is intended to give ringers an opportunity to ring on the new bells and also to raise money to pay for the job and to educate the parishioners in ringing matters. It is hoped that six local towers will be available for ringing during the afternoon.—C. P.”

The first peal on the bells was rung on 27th June 1971:

Ipsley First Pea

The inscriptions of the three old bells are given in Tilley and Walters’ “Church Bell of Warwickshire”

Ipsley Inscriptions

The inscriptions of the three trebles are

1 ST. PETER’S CHURCH, IPSLEY
F. G. FOREMAN, RECTOR
1971
2 ST. PETER’S CHURCH, IPSLEY
F. G. FOREMAN, RECTOR
1971
3 ST. PETER’S CHURCH, IPSLEY
GIVEN IN MEMORY OF
MY FATHER AND MOTHER
BY
W. F. WOOD
1971

Details of the Bells

1 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1971  3-2-11  25.50″   1402.0Hz (F+6c)
2 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1971  4-0-12  27.125″  1249.0Hz (Eb+6c)
3 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1971  4-3-20  28.75″   1112.0Hz (Db+5c)
4 A Worcester foundry,            c1420  5-3-17  31.25″   1050.0Hz (C+6c)
5 John Martin, Worcester           1664  7-2-06  34.875″   936.0Hz (Bb+7c)
6 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1971  9-2-13  37.00″    833.0Hz (Ab+5c)

Photo Gallery

 

Ipsley East. Source: Church Website Ipsley Plan. Source: British History Online
The church – Looking East Plan of the Church