Lindfield, All Saints

8 bells, 9-2-15cwt in G#.

(Formerly 8 bells, 21-2-19cwt in E.)

The eight bells of All Saint's Church in Lindfield were cast in 2019 by the Westley Group. As of 2024, they are the only complete peal cast by the foundry. The bells were hung by Whites of Appleton, as part of a complete replacement of the former, heavier ring of eight. Prior to 2019, there was a ring of eight bells, with a tenor of 21-2-19cwt in E. They were hung in a two tier frame, made up of 'A' type frame sides. The former ring were notoriously hard to ring and out of tune. From about 2014 onward, it was decided that fundraising would begin to replace the ring with a peal better suited to the tower. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry were the foundry of choice, and the plan was to have a similar peal cast as to that of the Royal Jubilee bells (which are now hung at St James Garlikhythe in London). With the sudden closure of the foundry in 2017, the plans were all thrown in the air, until Whites of Appleton announced they had taken on much of the work from Whitechapel, with the Westley Group now having the rights to cast Whitechapel bells, albeit under a new name. The old ring of bells were rung for a final time, to a quarter peal on Tuesday 3rd April 2018 to mark the closure of the church for reordering. At the time of the last ringing on the bells, a faculty was still pending for the replacement of the ring. In 2019, the project for the bells and clock went ahead. The bells were removed from the tower by Whites of Appleton, with help from the local band. Four of the old change ringing bells were retained due to preservation orders on them, and they were hung higher in the tower, at the same level as the base of the spire, for stationary chiming and use by the clock as quarter bells (for the ting-tang_ chimes and a service bell (although the service bell is not used). The bells are rung regularly by the local band, which is formed of some 15 members. Practice night is Tuesday from 19:30 to 21:00 and ringing regularly ranges from Rounds and Call Changes to Surprise Major. Sunday service ringing is from 0845 to 09:30 (1st, 3rd, 5th) and 10:45 to 11:15 (2nd, 4th) and 17:15 to 18:00 (all).

In 2019, the bells were cast by the Westley Group, with the Lindfield ringers watching the casting. Shortly after they were taken to Whites of Appleton, where they were fitted in their new frame with their new fittings. In the summer of that year, the bells were returned to the church and were hung over two weeks, again with the help of the local band. The clock was also rebuilt in its new case in the clock chamber and set running. The new bells were rung for the first time on the 9th July 2019. The first ring was a touch of Grandsire Triples with the band standing in the following order: 1) Rachel Edwards, 2) Robert Huxley, 3) Lynn Wilson, 4) Ollie Watson, 5) Michael Peace, 6) Gordon Upton, 7) Richard Hutchings, 8) Patricia Whiteside. Also present were David Cragg, Jacqui Allen, Sarah Beeston and the team from Whites of Appleton.

Photos courtesy of OEPW's personal archive and Lindfield Bells Facebook page.