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Sandwich, St Peter
 Photo: Richard Offen, May 2004
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Details of the Bells |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
| ® | 1 | 4-2-27 | 27½" | E♭ | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ® | 2 | 5-0-13 | 30" | D | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ® | 3 | 5-3-15 | 32" | C | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ® | 4 | 7-1-24 | 34½" | B♭ | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ҈ | 5 | 7-2-23 | 36" | A♭ | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ® | 6 | 9-2-1 | 38½" | G | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ® | 7 | 11-3-13 | 42" | F | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never | |
| ® | 8 | 15-2-19 | 46½" | E♭ | 1779 | William Mears | Conventional | Never |
Bellframes |
| Frame | Bells | Year | Maker | Material | Truss(es) | Local Layout | |||||
| 1 | All bells | 1727 | Oak |
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7 |
Inscriptions |
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How the bells are tuned |
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Prior to 1779 |
| Bell | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
| 1 (of 5) | 1625 | Joseph Hatch | Never | Recast 1779 | |
| 2 (of 5) | 1625 | Joseph Hatch | Never | Recast 1779 | |
| 3 (of 5) | 1625 | Joseph Hatch | Never | Recast 1779 | |
| 4 (of 5) | 1625 | Joseph Hatch | Never | Recast 1779 | |
| 5 (of 5) | 1727 | Samuel Knight | Never | Recast 1779 |
History |
| 1546 | A man was killed while ringing the 3rd. | ||
| 1641 | Tower described as cracked. | ||
| 1663 | Upper portion of the tower blew down in a gale. | ||
| 1727 | 6 bells were purchased from Canterbury Cathedral. The tenor was recast by Samuel Knight and all 6, known as the "Oxfords" were hung in the tower. | ||
| 1760 | Fausset records 5 bells in the tower, 4 by Joseph Hatch dated 1625, and a tenor by Samuel Knight, dated 1727. [1] | ||
| 1779 | The 6 bells were recast into 8 by William Mears. | ||
| 1795 | Record of 8 bells in the tower. [2] | ||
| 1800 | Record of 8 bells. [3] | ||
| 1815 | A new headstock was provided for the treble. | ||
| 1823 | The only peal to have been rung here was rung by the Quex Institution. The bells were reported to be very difficult to ring. "The amazing vibration of the tower, coming in contact with the beat of bells, rendered the peal a most difficult task, so as to need the assistance of Mr J. White, in the latter part of the peal." | ||
| 1892 | The 4th was repaired. A meeting of the KCACR was held here in this year. | ||
| 1898 | New clock and chimes fitted by Gillett & Johnston. | ||
| 1913 | Bells last rung, for a wedding when "dust seemed to fall" (local inf. Per Mr J. Bowles, formerly Secretary of the RCF). | ||
| 1932 | The bells were inspected by Gillett & Johnston and a quotation was given for rehanging in a new frame. Money raised for this but it was misappropriated leaving just enough to rehang the tenor.The tenor was quarter-turned, rehung and fitted with ball bearings by Mears & Stainbank at a cost of £33.15s. Fundraising seems to have continued after this time with references in 1936. [5] | ||
| 1948 | Church ceased to be a parish church and was used as the Chapel of Sir Roger Manwood's School. | ||
| 1973 | The church was declared redundant on 22 Feb. | ||
| 1974 | The KCACR made proposals for rehanging the bells to the RCF. The tower was subsequently underpinned, the clock rebuilt, new steps put in - and the bells left in their dereliction. That year, on 16th Oct, the Redundancy Scheme Church was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust. | ||
| 1979 | Estimates for restoration were again sought but the work was vetoed by the church architect. The belfry was cleared of rubbish and fragments of old wheels, etc. | ||
| 2011 | The tenor was rehung on new ball bearings by Whitechapel. | ||
| 2015 | The Friends of St Peter's and the Churches Conservation Trust devised a 'tower climbing experience' called Haven Heights. This involved access in the form of a wooden spiral stairway from the floor of the ringing chamber to the tower parapet. The star attractions were the clock, the curfew (tenor) bell and the view over Sandwich from the top of the tower. To make way for the stairs the 5th bell was lifted out of its bearings and stood down on top of the 6th pit. All this was done without informing the Diocesan Bells Adviser or the KCACR. |
| [1] | "This Church consists of The Chancell, Body, and N. Isle. It had formerly a S. Isle, wch. is now demolish’d, the Ground where it stood making a Part of the Church Yard. At The East End stands the abovemention’d Chantry, or St Peters School. The Tower which is of more modern Workmanship than ye Church, and is built of Brick, stands between the Chancell and the Body. In it hang 5 Bells. The 4 Smallest were made by Joseph Hatch 1625 and the Largest, or Tennor, by S. Knight. 1727." (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1760) |
| [2] | It now consists of two aisles and a chancel, with a square tower, containing a peal of eight bells, in the middle. Formerly there was a South aisle, but it was destroyed by the falling on October 12th 1661, though the walls of it still remain, about breast high. The 13th of October 1661 St Peter’s church fell down. That day the same year was a Sabbath day; there were two sermons preached there that day, and it fell down within six or seven hours after the people were gone home, presently after one quarter of an hour past eleven o’clock at night. Had it fell at the time when the people were there, the chiefest of the town and parish would have been killed, and buried under the rubbish, and stones, and timber; but the Lord was so gracious as to show a miraculous mercy in that judgement, for there was no man, woman or child killed or hurt, and very few heard it. The rubbish was three fathom deep in the middle of the church, the bells underneath it; two or three rods long it lay. 1st. I mean to make it understood/That tho’ I’m little yet I’m good/. Mears & Co. Fecit 1779. 2nd. To honour both of God and King/Our voices shall in Consort ring/. Wm. Mears & Co. of London Fecit 1779. 3rd. Whilst thus we join in Chearful sound/May Love and Loyalty abound/. Wm. Mears & Co. of London Fecit 1779. 4th. Music is Medicine to the mind. Mears & Co. 1779. 5th. In Wedlock Bands all ye who join With Hand & Hearts unite/So shall our tuneful Tongues combine To laud the Nuptial rite/. 6th. Peace and Good neighbourwood (sic). Wm. Mears & Co. Fecit 1779. 7th. Ye Ringers all that prize your Health & Happiness/Be sober merry wise & you’ll the same possess/. Wm. Mears & Co. Fecit 1779. 8th. The Revd. Mr J Conant A.M. Rector. W.W. Bradley, W. Brice. Ch. Wardens. Forbes 1779 (Zechariah Cozens, 1795) |
| [3] | The rubbish was three fathom deep in the middle of the church, the bells underneath it. There are eight small but musical bells, cast in 1779; they cost 430l. 12s. 6d. which expence was in great measure defrayed by the metal of the former six old bells. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 9', Edward Hasted) |
| [4] | On Saturday last, a band belonging to the Quex Institution of Change Ringers, made an excursion to Sandwich, and rang at St. Peter’s church a true and complete peal of 5040 grandsire triples, in 3 hours and 1 minute (being the maiden peal on those bells). J. P. Powell, Esq., Patron of the above Institution, expressed his high approbation on hearing the above performance. The performers were- Elijah Emtage treble James Carter 2 William Clarke 3 George Francis 4 John Beer 5 William Shipway 6 Stephen Homans 7 Stephen Carter tenor Conducted by W. Shipway The amazing vibration of the tower, coming in contact with the beat of bells, rendered the peal a most difficult task, so as to need the assistance of Mr J. White, in the latter part of the peal. (Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal - Tuesday 30 December 1823) |
| [5] | SANDWICH. Hospitals' Benefit. £100 has been forwarded to both Canterbury and Deal Hospitals from the proceeds of Sandwich Fayre, 1934. There is still a small surplus which will be disbursed later. It will be remembered this event was organised for the rehanging of the bells of St. Peter's Church Sandwich. (Dover Express - Friday 04 September 1936) |
Articles
Gallery |
The tower rises above the Sandwich skyline. Photo: David Cawley, 2005 |
The peal board in the tower for the one and only peal on the bells. Photo: David Cawley, 2005 |
David Cawley rings the curfew (tenor) bell. Photo: David Cawley, 2005 |
3 of the curfew ringers showing the new rope on the tenor, the peal board, the remains of the 4th rope, and the hat pegs. Photo: David Cawley, 2005 |
Peal Boards |
Photo: David L Cawley, 1 January 2005 |
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Recent Peals The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
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Full list of peals on Bellboard here |
Full list of quarters on Bellboard here |
| Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 27 May 2020 |
