If you have any information or photographs relating to the history of church bell ringing at Ecclesfield, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!

Ecclesfield bells hung for Change Ringing

Augmenting to ten bells, 2011

The Sanctus Bell

We have one other bell in the belfry called a Sanctus bell. It's only small and not hung for change ringing. It can only be chimed and serves no purpose now. It has always been known to the ringers as Tom Tinkler. It is mentioned in the churchwardens' accounts for 1587 as "the lyttle Santys bell". The purpose of a Sanctus bell was to signal to the village and those not able to attend the service that Mass was being celebrated.

The Sanctus bell is dated c1580 making it the oldest bell in the tower. It is 15" diameter mounted on a timber headstock and weighs approximately 3/4 cwt. There is no inscription on the bell but it does bear the arms of Wombwell of Thundercliffe Grange. The wrought iron clapper is held by a cast-in crown staple. It is mounted on steel gudgeons running in plain gunmetal bearings on a small sub frame on top of the main bell frame. It can be chimed from the ringing chamber by pulling the rope attached to the lever that projects from the headstock. We do occasionally give the rope a pull, so listen out for it.

We have not managed to find any information about who cast the Sanctus bell.

Canons

Canons are the metal loops cast at the top of the bell. They are the means of attaching it to a wooden headstock. The treble, 2nd, 3rd and 4th were new in 2011 and don't have canons. 5,6,7,8 have had their canons removed at some time in the past.

The 9th and 10th bells still have their canons, six on each bell, this is an interesting historical feature. To preserve the bells in their original state they are mounted in special canon retaining metal headstocks. Now bolts go through the headstock and the crown of the bell to secure it to the headstock. The canons are not under any stress.

The Sanctus bell also has six canons and is the only one mounted in the traditional way on a wooden headstock with straps to the canons.

The top of the Sanctus bell showing the canons and the timber headstock.

The Reverend Dr. Alfred Gatty (1813-1903)

The Reverend Dr. Alfred Gatty arrived as Vicar of Ecclesfield on 23rd September 1839, his long ministry concluding only with his death on 20th January 1903. In 1845, he oversaw two new bells being added to Ecclesfield tower (the current 3rd and 4th, which were recast in Whitechapel in 2011). Gatty was a prolific author, as was his first wife, Margaret (nee Scott) and children. In 1847, the Reverend Dr. Alfred Gatty published "The Bell: Its Origins, History and Uses," and an illustrated edition, including woodcuts, followed in 1848. It mainly discusses church bells, but covers other types of bell, too, for example those found on costumes or tied to animals. One wonders if he was writing of his personal experience at Ecclesfield when he wrote passages such as the following:

"Nothing, therefore, is to be done, but to convey the reader up the dark, narrow, winding and worn stairs of the church-tower, into the bell-chamber itself, where eight stout young men, stripped of coats and waistcoats, are standing in a circle, rope in hand, ready for a merry peal. What a neat and nervous effort is that, by which each straight stripling in his place handles his rope, like a well accustomed plaything, and shows by a stroke or two that he is master of his bell! The ropes hang through holes in the bell-chamber ceiling; and when touched by the ringer’s practiced hand, the brazen monsters groan in their airy loft above, as they begin to swing on their gudgeons," (pages 59-60).

In April 1880, the Reverend Dr. Alfred Gatty and the Ecclesfield ringers had a political quarrel, which resulted in the ringers refusing to ring for church services. The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent of 12th April 1880 (page 3) reports:

"The Liberals of Ecclesfield were so delighted at the return of the Hon. H.W. Fitzwilliam and Mr. W.H. Leatham, that the ringers went voluntarily to the belfry and began ringing in honour of the victory. The Rev. Dr. Gatty, the vicar, soon sent a messenger, however, and asked them to desist. But they would not, and the Vicar then sent his son, Mr. S.H. Gatty, who said his father desired that they should cease ringing. It was intimated to Mr. Gatty that no objection would have been raised if the victory had been on the other side, and then they expressed their intention of not ringing on the Sabbath. They therefore refrained from ringing the usual peal yesterday, and propose going to Wentworth Church to-day, to ring there in honour of the victory."

The dispute was not settled, and the ringers did not return, until August 1880, when an amicable settlement was facilitated by the Churchwardens. An almost simultaneous dispute between ringers and clergy occured in Dronfield, north east Derbyshire.

Some early Ecclesfield Ringers (pre-1900)

One of the earliest mentions of an Ecclesfield ringer by name is Thomas Loxley, who died on 6th May 1822, aged 45 years, as a result of one of his hands being entangled in machinery, "which ultimately mortified" (Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, 11th May 1822, page 3).  Thomas Loxley is identified as a member of the musical band at Ecclesfield, and a ringer, in Lister's "Old Ecclesfield Diary". He was buried in Ecclesfield churchyard.

The following year, there is a report of a "Crown Bob" being rung at Ecclesfield - 2520 changes, in one hour and 28 minutes without a fault, consisting of the following methods: "Oxford Trebles, College Pleasure, 360 changes; and after the Crown Bob, the following peals, Oxford Trebles, College Pleasure and College Trebles," (Sheffield Independent and Yorkshire & Derbyshire Advertiser, 20th December 1823, page 3). The ages of the ringers are noted in the article:

1. Treble Ringer and Conductor of the "Crown Bob", Geo. Hartley, aged 70.

2. John Nicholson, aged 53.

3. Benjamin Marshall, aged 74.

4. Joseph Downs, aged 66.

5. David Parker, aged 39.

6. Conductor of the three peals, John Coward, aged 52 (the combined age of the ringers being 354).

The first recorded peal on the Ecclesfield bells was accomplished on Monday 16th January 1843, when 5040 changes of College Treble Pleasure and other Minor methods were rung in three hours and five minutes. The ringers were recorded as:

1. O. Barlow (probably Howarth Barlow), treble.

2. J. Parker.

3. J. Crossland.

4. H. Turton.

5. Wm. Parker.

6. J. Turton, tenor.

On the Sunday morning of 21st April 1850, a peal of 5024 changes of Kent Treble Bob Major was rung in three hours and five minutes, this being the oldest ringing achievement currently recorded in the Ecclesfield ringing room, inscribed on a stone plaque. The ringers are named as:

1. Henry Stringer, treble.

2. Edmund Hemmingfield.

3. Joseph Parker, Conductor.

4. William Parker.

5. Jonathan Crossland.

6. Howarth Barlow.

7. John Hutchinson.

8. Henry Turton, tenor.

The stone plaque has the name "H. Barlow" engraved in the bottom left hand corner. Howarth Barlow, the ringer of the 6th, was a Stone Mason, and his mark ("H. Barlow") can be found on some of the gravestones in Ecclesfield churchyard. He died in Kimberworth, Rotherham on 2nd November 1862, aged 44. He is buried by the side of the lychgate in Ecclesfield churchyard, with other members of his family.

On 2nd July 1852, John Crossland died in the 50th year of his age. He is described as a nail maker of Ecclesfield "and was for many years the conducting ringer of the village peal of bells," (Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, 9th July 1852, page 5).

On 8th February 1856, John Coward of Ecclesfield died, aged 75 - "for many years a ringer at the above place. His remains were borne, on the following Monday, to their resting place by the oldest ringers, who afterwards rang a dumb peal in honour of his past services," (Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, 23rd February 1856, page 8).

Prize ringing matches were popular in the local area in the nineteenth century, and the Ecclesfield ringers took part in many of these competitions. As ringing societies were established, attending ringing meetings became popular.

After the formation of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers in 1875, the first Ecclesfield ringers to be named appear in the 1884-1885 Annual Report. These were William Turton and George Shaw, both of whom are recorded as ringing one peal during that year. In the following year's Annual Report another Ecclesfield ringer was added to the list: Sam Hemingfield, who is recorded as ringing one peal that year. William Turton and George Shaw added another peal to their tally, making their total two peals each.

On 4th June 1877, Joseph Parker, the ringer of the 3rd bell and Conductor of the 21st April 1850 peal, died suddenly whilst playing cricket at Bramall Lane. At the time, his address was on Lansdowne Road in Sheffield and he was 53 years old. He was buried at St. Mary's, Bramall Lane. On Thursday 7th June, the Ecclesfield ringers "rung a muffled peal of Oxford" as a token of respect (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 9th June 1877, page 7).

No additional ringers were listed in the Y.A.C.R. Annual Reports until 1888-1889, when Fred and Tom Turton join William Turton, George Shaw and Sam Hemingfield. Fred Turton is the first Ecclesfield ringer to have an obituary printed in the Y.A.C.R. Annual report (1890-1891), and it reads as follows:

FRED TURTON,

Died at Ecclesfield, February 6th, 1891, in his thirty-fifth year.

By the untimely and somewhat sudden death of Mr. Fred Turton, the Ecclesfield branch has suffered a great loss. For fourteen years he had been a most useful and valuable member of the Company, ever ready to take his part in the work of ringing whether for services, practices or peals. Both in mastering new methods and in good striking he was always to be depended upon, and his general habits and manners made him ever a favourite among his brethren. He died after only a few hours’ illness from blood poisoning occasioned by a protruding nail in his boot. His funeral was attended by his brother ringers, who also rang muffled peals on the Ecclesfield bells as a tribute to his memory.

The Y.A.C.R. Annual Report for the year 1893-1894 notes several additional Ecclesfield ringers, including William Thornton, Willis Whitham and several members of the Kitson family of Primrose Hill: - Thomas Kitson senior, Thomas Kitson junior and Walter Kitson. The Kitsons are said to have been renowned handbell ringers. Thomas Kitson senior passed away on 1st January 1897, and his obituary appears in the Y.A.C.R. Annual Report:

THOMAS KITSON, SENIOR.

Died at Ecclesfield, January 1st, 1897.

Many of our Members who remember our pleasant visit to Ecclesfield in leafy June, 1894, will be sorry to be reminded that one who welcomed us on that occasion has been called to his rest. As an example of unswerving support to our Association it is noteworthy that the subscription due for the year just closed was duly forwarded to us even after his decease. Mr. Kitson joined us along with several of the local branch in 1893-4.

The turn of the century saw the sad demise of two experienced Ecclesfield ringers, Henry Stringer and Edmund Hemingfield. The Bells News reports the loss as follows:

HENRY STRINGER,

Died at Ecclesfield, February 23rd, 1900, aged 74.

EDMUND HEMINGFIELD,

Died at Ecclesfield, October 27th, 1899, aged 75.

The above were both members of the Ecclesfield society for the long period of fifty-seven years. They both commenced to ring at one time in the year 1842. Mr. Hemingfield was bed-ridden for nearly a year before he died, but Mr. Stringer attended regularly up to a fortnight before his death. They were the last survivors of a company whose names are on a tablet in the belfry recording a 5024 of Kent Treble Bob Major, rung on April 21st, 1850. Muffled peals were rung after each funeral, and ringers attended from Sheffield, Rotherham, Dronfield and Bradfield. By their deaths the Ecclesfield company lose two good ringers, which it will be difficult to replace.

Edmund Hemingfield's gravestone, in Ecclesfield churchyard, mentions that he was a ringer at this church for 57 years.

©  2025

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