Local Towers
There are several ringable towers in the far west of the
Southern District of the
Essex Association of Change Ringers. We often pay a visit to help with the
the practices, or simply to have fun ringing, and the bell ringers from these
towers regularly help us out. Here are the brief details of these towers
with information about where they are. Please check with the individual
towers if you intend to visit as practices may be changed or cancelled.
St. Thomas of Cantebury, Brentwood
St. Thomas' can be found just off Brentwood high street
and plenty of parking is available in local car parks. The eight bells have been refurbished recently. The tenor weighs just over 18 hundred weight and the bells are in the key of E flat.
Practices are held of Thursday evenings from 7:45 except
for the first Thursday of the month. More details of
St. Thomas Church can be found on their
website and
details of the bells are on the
Dove's Guide. The Tower correspondent is Warren Hawkings
who can be contacted
on 01277 214612.
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St. Thomas of
Canterbury, Brentwood |
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St. Mary
the Virgin, Shenfield |
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St. Mary the
Virgin, Shenfield
The oldest part of St. Mary's dates from
the 13th century. Five bells were recast and augmented to
six in 1911. Unusually, there are two girders running
about 2ft off the floor in the ringing room. The bells are
a nice ring on plain bearings in a wooden frame with the tenor weighing
around 9 hundred weight.
Practices are held on Thursday evenings from 8 pm but
please phone to check. St. Mary's has a
website and the
details of the bells are on the
Dove's Guide.
The Tower correspondent is Ray Jones who can be contacted
on 01277 211773.
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All Saints, Hutton
All Saints is in a very peaceful , rural setting. The
tower is wooden, covered by wooden shingles. It is the only
five bell tower in the district and the tenor weighs just
over 6 hundred weight. Oddly, the number four bell is
slightly heavier than the tenor. Practices are held on Tuesday
evenings from 7:45 pm. All Saints Church has a
website and the
details of the bells are on the
Dove's Guide.
The Tower correspondent is Renee Page-Jones who can be
contacted on 01277
218531.
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All
Saints, Hutton |
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St.
Nicholas, Ingrave |
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St. Nicholas,
Ingrave
St. Nicholas' church is a remarkable structure built of
red brick by Lord Petre of Thorndon Hall. Building work started in 1734 to replace
the two earlier
churches of Churches of West Horndon and Gingralph
(Ingrave). The
massive west tower houses a ring of six bells which were
re-hung in 1978. The tenor weighs just over 10 hundred weight.
Practices are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:45 pm but
please phone to check. St. Nicholas' Church has a
website and the
details of the bells are on the
Dove's Guide.
The Tower correspondent is Mrs C. Lowe who can be contacted on 01277 810095.
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St. Paul's, Bentley Common
St. Paul's was build in the late 19th century and is
huddled amongst woodland. Five bells were augmented to six
in 1965 with a new treble being installed above the other
bells. The bells are a lovely light ring with the tenor weighing
around 4 hundred weight.
Practices are held of Tuesday evenings from 8 pm. The
details of the bells are on the
Dove's Guide.
The Tower correspondent is Rowena Marshall
who can be contacted on 01277 222814.
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St. Paul's,
Bentley Common |
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St. Thomas, Navestock
St. Thomas is in a lovely rural setting and parts of the
church, including the tower, date from the 11th century. The
tower is wooden which amazingly survived a WWII landmine
that fell and detonated close by in the churchyard.
The depression in the ground from the resulting explosion
can be seen still. The tower houses a ring of six bells
which were rehung in 1981. The tenor weighs just over 9
hundred weight. The bells are rung from the ground floor so
there are no stairs to climb. Practices are held on
Friday evenings from 8 pm but may be cancelled if turnout
is expected to be poor so please ring first. Details of the bells are on the
Dove's Guide.
The Tower correspondent is Ron Brown who can be contacted on 01277
372685.
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St.
Thomas. Navestock |
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