The Lincoln Diocesan Guild
of
Church Bell Ringers

Re-hanging of St Helen's, Willingham by Stow

It is 103 years since our bells were installed at St Helen's. They are a 12cwt Taylors ring of 6 bells, rung from the ground floor with a 50 foot draft. The bells had been hung on plain bearings and using Hastings stays. Over the years only routine maintenance had been carried out and it had become apparent that some work was needed to overhaul the bells. Recently new housing had been built very close to the church and the bells were very loud outside.

The impetus to improve the bells came from Tom Blyth, who lives in Saxilby, only 8 miles away from Willingham. Following work experience with Hayward Mills, he was taken on by them as a professional bellhanger three years ago. In discussion with the local ringers Tom suggested that the bells should be rehung on ball bearings, the clappers rebushed and reshaped, regular stay and slider mechanisms be installed on the front bells, pulleys renewed and wheels treated. At the same time he suggested that the louvres should be blocked up so that the sound would leave the tower at the top through the fine sound lantern, to ensure that the bells would be quieter in the immediate area but the sound would be projected further through the sound lantern. For good measure Tom suggested that additional rope guides be put in the intermediate chamber.

Major works like this are expensive. The ringers of the 1930's wanted to rehang the bells on ball bearings but the vicar turned it down because it was too expensive. It was £70 then. To reduce costs considerably, it was agreed with Hayward Mills that Tom would oversee and supervise all the work but that local volunteers would be found to assist him.

As can be expected, the faculty took a considerable number of months to come through. However, eventually it did and a start date of August 1st was agreed. In the meantime a number of fund raising events were organised by the ringers and members of the congregation and generous grants from the guild and Branch were promised. A very tight schedule of work was put together with the aim that all the work would be done within a month.

The rehang

The first weekend was very busy. On the Friday Tom plus 6 local ringers (Jenny, Sarah, Doreen, Katie, Harry and Sue) started scraping and cleaning the old oil off the bells and frame. On Saturday Tom plus 5 more experienced volunteers from across the branch (John, Ian, Richard, Chris and Mark) removed the clappers, headstocks, pulleys and wheels and lowered them all to the ground floor. The bells were put up on blocks of wood on the frames. On Sunday the 5th and 6th wheels were lowered over the tower roof as they didn't fit through the trap doors. Everything fitted neatly into the Bates' pickup and Laura, Tom and Adam took them safely to Nottingham.

A very busy weekend but we were ahead of schedule.

During the next week Tom worked flat out at the works on the headstocks, clappers and pulleys. A few late nights were put in. Meanwhile the painting crew, consisting of Andrew, Katie, Jenny, Sue and Doreen wire brushed the frame, painted the first coat of red oxide onto it then two days later put the undercoat on. On Friday Sue and Helgi met Tom at Hayward Mills and brought back the Stirling boards needed for the sound control on the louvres.

First week over and we were still ahead of schedule.

During the second weekend large Stirling boards were hauled up to the middle floor where they were creosoted. Battens were fitted to the walls around the louvresready for fastening the boards.

During the second week the frame had a top coat of gloss painted, Marisa joining the normal painting team. Tom was away in Ireland with Hayward Mills so the volunteers were left in charge. During the 3rd weekend the shuttering to 3 of the 4 louvres was completed, Julian, Helgi and Mark having to conquer nerves to clamber up high enough to reach the top.

2nd week over and we were still on schedule.

On Thursday 21st The headstocks etc were brought back from Nottingham in a van and the pieces unloaded into the church. On Friday these were hauled back up the tower by Tom, Lilja, John and Sue and the headstocks soon went back onto the bells. The following day Charles and Andrew helped refit the clappers and the fittings were made ready for the pulley blocks.

On Sunday whilst most of the branch ringers were up at the Cathedral ringing forEvensong, Tom, Lilja and Helgi were back up the tower. The 4th louvre covering was completed and the gale breaker around the sound lantern started. Monday 25th was no Bank Holiday for us. Tom, Charles, John, Helgi, Lija and Sue were flat out all day. The extra rope guides were installed in the intermediate chamber, the sliders were put in place and the pulley blocks attached.

On Tuesday the bells were balanced, the wheels returned and were installed. On Wednesday the bells were rung up individually and tested. All was well. A massive clean up operation was needed to get the church ready for our normal practice.

7.30pm normal practice - all bells rung and their sound was much admired, both inside and out. Cake and sparkling wine was consumed to celebrate the completion of the work. All done to schedule, thanks to everyone's hard work - especially Tom.

On September 20th September a rededication service was held at St Helen's. Members of the congregation joined West Lindsey Branch members for the service and then for tea and a slide show in the village hall afterwards, Tom was thanked for the great job he had done and was presented with a painting of himself under the 2nd bell and an album of photos showing work in progress. Tom presented Sue with a mounted old gudgeon so she will still be able to remember what it was like to have to oil bells.

450 volunteer hours went into the rehang, with 22 voluntary helpers. It was an amazing, but exhausting team effort. We are very proud to know that our bells are now in great order for the next 100 years. (Tom says they are the best 6 in Lincolnshire! Come and see if you agree!)