Wroxall

St Leonard 3: 9cwt in Bb – Unringable

Grid Reference 139/221707 Wroxall. Source: Parish Website
Postcode CV35 7NB
Recording None Available
Affiliation Private Ownership
Peals None
Sunday None
Practice None
Other Information Unringable – Private Ownership

History

The church was originally structurally part of the priory church, but it is probable that this part was always assigned to the parishioners and that the destroyed portion south of it constituted the church of the nuns. It is a rectangular structure 94 ft. long by 22 ft. wide, dating from about 1315 and having the west tower of 1663–4 built within the west end. At the east end of the south side is a relatively modern organ chamber.

These bells are hopelessly unringable. The frame is a Bagley installation from time of treble, no pulleys are present. The bells, all being maiden castings, are in the key of Bb major. They hang in a wooden frame of 1664. All three bells are fitted with elm headstocks, strap gudgeons with stock hoops and keyed tail bolts, plain brass bearings and unorthodox type wheels. The two smallest bells have iron latchet stays and sliders, while the tenor bell has a traditional type wooden stay with a wooden latchet slider.

Christopher Dalton, a well-known bell historian wrote in a letter published in The Ringing World of July 3rd 1964,

Dear Sir,—Your Winchester correspondent asks (June 19th) about stays in the form of metal ‘ spurs ’ or ‘ spikes ’ such as were fitted at St. Laurence’s Church. I cannot say who originated this type of stay, but it does seem to have been quite common a hundred or more years ago……….. Two out of the ring of three bells at Wroxall. in Warwickshire, are fitted with these stays. The frame here is 17th century but the stays are probably 19th century replacements.

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

Wroxall Inscriptions

The church passed into private ownership, Wroxall Abbey Estates and renamed it as “Wren’s Chapel”. A large Free Methodist Church in Solihull, agreed to provide ordained ministers to continue the Christian witness in Warwickshire. The ministers appointed at that time belonged to the Free Methodist Church denomination, but Wren’s Chapel was registered as an independent congregation. In 2009, its ministers were re-ordained, under the Order of St Leonard (OSL) and no longer connected with the Free Methodists. The Church separately became the seat of the Bishop of OSL, Bishop David. In 2011 it became known as Wren’s Cathedral.

In August 2019 the Wroxall Estate went into administration suddenly and the church was closed.  The estate was sold to new owners.  By early 2023, the OSL ministry team had made all necessary arrangements to commence worship and reopened as an independent Christian congregation in March 2023. The church has been renamed “St Leonards”.

Details of the Bells

1 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe  1664 5cwt 29.00″ 1184.0Hz (D+14c)
2 Newcombe, Leicester      c1600 7cwt 33.75″ 1038.0Hz (C-14c)
3 Thomas Bullisdon, London c1500 9cwt 38.00″  928.0Hz (Bb-8c)

Photo Gallery

Wroxall East. Source: A MacRae Thomson Wroxall West. Source: A MacRae Thomson
The Church – Looking East The Church – Looking West
Layout 3.1
The Frame Layout