St Mary Rushden Belfry

Where are we ? Historical Background The Bells Customs

Belfry Catastrophe From the minutes Ringing Arrangements

Achievements Peals 2009 Calendar Belfry Gossip

Officers/Contacts Pictures Hear the Bells

Where are we ?

The Parish of Rushden is situated on the A6 in the county of Northamptonshire, between Kettering and Bedford, and has as its southern limits, the county boundary between Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. The river Nene, which flows into the Wash provides the Parish with its northern limits. The county of Northamptonshire is said to be noted for its "Spires & Squires" and judging from the historians, the town appears for long years to have been noted for nothing but its spire and its squire.

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Historical Background

The name Rushden is undoubtedly of Saxon origin, indeed the word probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon "rise" rush, and "den" a small clearing. In 1086, the Bedfordshire Domesday survey lists the settlement as Risdene and the land is recorded as belonging to the King. No church is actually mentioned, although the Survey speaks of land in Risdene "formally held with power of lease by Samar the priest". If therefore a priest is recorded in Risdene, it seems difficult to believe there was no church; probably a small Saxon chapel of wattle and daub existed. However, during the Norman era a more permanent building was erected, whose foundations still lie beneath the present church.

In 1105, William Peverel, to whom the Conqueror had rewarded a lordship, founded the Priory of Lenton one of the richest religious orders in Nottinghamshire. It was endowed with six churches, including Rushden. The Priory belonged to the Cluniac missionary order. The first rector to be appointed was Thomas de-Northampton in 1230.

The late 13^th century was a time of great religious enthusiasm, and between 1250 and 1270 the church was considerably extended with a tower, chancel and north and south aisles being added. Some 100 years later the tower was enlarged and strengthened and the 164 feet crocketed spire was erected. Rumour has it that the village youths competed in races to the top and back, but then this was not the age of delinquency!

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The Bells

In 1794 a ring of five bells was cast at St. Neots by Robert Taylor, with the present 18cwt tenor bell being added in 1818. The last time the original six bells were rung was to celebrate the 1918 victory. From then on the bells were either silent or chimed by various individuals. In 1952 it became necessary to carry out major repair work to the spire, and thanks to the inspiration and enthusiasm of Mr. Charles Clifton, it was agreed to re-hang and augment the six bells. An appeal fund was launched by the rector, Canon Edwin Green, and the necessary 3500 pounds was raised in 100 days. The response from the town was indicative of the feeling towards the beautiful church and the genuine desire to hear the bells ring once again. The work was carried out by Taylors of Loughborough, and the necessary construction work was under the guidance of Mr Leslie Priestley, who became the captain of the ringers.

With all work completed at Rushden, the bells were dedicated by the Bishop of Peterborough on May 30^th 1953. It was indeed a day of glory, and a day of satisfaction, and all to coincide with the Coronation of Elizabeth II.

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Customs

Bellringing customs at Rushden included a bell rung daily at noon; a pancake bell on Shrove Tuesday and a gleaning bell during harvest time. The death knell consisted of three tolls for a male and two for a female. It was also the custom to ring at daybreak the morning after a wedding "in order to wake the bride to commence her household duties"!

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Belfry Catastrophe

In 1805 while the ringers were practising, a severe thunderstorm broke over the town. A great flash of lightening entered the ringing chamber and instantly killed a young lad who was standing behind one of the ringers, although none of the ringers was harmed.

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From the Minutes

The minutes of the Rushden ringers of 1891 makes very interesting and amusing reading. A proposition to augment the bells from six to eight was passed unanimously; this was eventually achieved in 1953. It was also agreed to increase the number of handbells, but this never came to fruition. A complaint of misconduct by the ringers in the belfry was discussed, but nothing was definitely settled. It also appears that ringing was not on a regular basis, as the rector was asked to draw up a list of Sundays in the year upon which ringing should take place, or not take place, or be left to the option of the ringers.

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Ringing Arrangements

Practice Night
Fridays 7:00pm to 9pm

Service Ringing
Sundays 10.45am - 11.15am
5.00pm - 5.45pm (quarter peal attempt)

Methods
Plain and Surprise Major

Peal Attempts
Limit of approximately 4 per year including the Les Priestley Memorial Peal

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Achievements

Regular winners of the Wellingborough Branch annual striking competition

Leading quarter peal tower in the Guild

Placed 2^nd in the 1997 national quarter peal table, as published in the Ringing World, ringing 63 quarters.

1000^th quarter peal on the bells achieved on October 31^st 1999.

Won the Peterborough Diocesan Guild six bell striking competition - April 2002, April 2008

Won the Wellingborough Branch six bell striking competition - June 2002, June 2004, June 2005, June 2006, June 2007, June 2008

Our quarter peal aim for 1999 to ring the alphabet to Surprise Major methods was achieved. Here are the methods:

A - Aynho, B - Braunstone, C - Cambridge, D - Deeplyvale, E - Easingwold,
F - Fordcombe, G - Gainsborough, H - Havant, I - Ilex (new method),
J - Johannesburg, K - Kingsthorpe, L - Lindum, M - Musbury, N - Nailstone,
O - Ohio, P - Purbeck, Q - Quedgeley, R - Rutland, S - Superlative,
T - Teejay, U - Ulceby, V - Vancouver, W - Wye, X - Xian,
Y - Yorkshire, Z - Zelah

Congratulations to Bob Dennis on completing his 1000^thpeal on Saturday March 4^th 2000
and to Bob Whitworth for completing his 1000^th quarter peal on Sunday June 4^th 2000 and 1000^th quarter peal on the bells - June 2002.
Alan Marks rang his 1000^th quarter peal during the summer of 2002, well done Alan!
Congratulations to Jim Hedgcock who rang his 1000^th peal on Saturday December 7th 2002 at Daventry.
Congratulations to Tony Sansom who rang his 1000^th peal on Sunday November 28th 2004 at St Mary's Rushden.
Congratulations to Pam Bailey who rang her 1000^th quarter peal on Sunday July 10th 2005 at St Mary's Rushden.
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2009 Calendar

PEALS

A peal for the institution of our new rector the Rev. Stephen Prior in May.

QUARTER PEALS