The Minster Church of

The Minster Bells" - Bell Restoration Appeal 2006

(text extracted from the Friends of Sunderland Minster leaflet)

The History of the Bells

The first peal of six bells was cast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London in 1809 and was hung in an oak frame in the tower in 1810. The Tenor (heaviest) bell weighed 11 cwt approx. and rang the note G.

The bells were hung for full circle ringing in the traditional English manner.

In 1894 the six bells were augmented to eight.

A peal of 5024 Kent Treble Bob Major was rung on Wednesday September 9th 1894 to mark the dedication of the two new treble bells.

The present bells were recast and rehung by Mears & Stainbank in 1932 at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.

After recasting, the Tenor bell weighed 12cwt. The 1894 frame was altered to allow the larger recast bells to be installed.

The present bells bear the following inscriptions.

Treble and Second bell 'THANKSGIVING AD 1894 John L. Browne 'CHURCHWARDEN' '

Tenor bell THESE BELLS WERE CAST 1809 THE REVD DR GRAY - RECTOR MR INO RAIN - CHURCHWARDEN.

THE EIGHT BELLS WERE RECAST 1932 A.B.WYNNE WILLSON - RECTOR

W.J.MOOR, G.LMUSTARD WARDENS

The restoration proposal is to replace the existing frame, which has reached the end of its useful life, with a new steel 10 bell frame which would hold the existing eight bells and include two new Treble (lighter) bells as befitting a Minster. To clean and rehang the bells in the modern frame with metal headstocks and new wheels.

The anticipated cost of this is in the region of £50,000, and the Friends of Sunderland Minster are grateful to all our supporters and benefactors.

All donations should be sent to Sunderland Minster Cheques payable to 'Friends of Sunderland Minster'

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The Bells are hung for full circle ringing in the traditional English manner are rung by means of ropes and wheels.

Each bell swings a full circle to and fro, the belt being struck once at the end of each swing, by the central clapper.

Bells hung in this manner require one person for each bell.

When the restoration project is complete the newly hung bells of Sunderland Minster will be heard over the whole of the City of Sunderland.

Sunderland Minster, High Street West SUNDERLAND SRI 3ET Tel: 0191 565 4066 Fax: 0191 567 1002

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2nd November 2006 Excellent news (courtesy of the Sunderland Echo) ! It appears that the target figure has now almost been reached. There remains only £5,000 yet to be raised and we are all extremely grateful to the parishioners, businesses and other interested parties who have made this possible. The Echo reports "that the bells" will now be heard again. In writing this, they did, of course, employ "journalistic licence" because the bells were never in such serious danger of being silenced, although the main bell frame is cracked - said, at the start of the appeal to be very serious. However, we did need the alterations which will make a ten-bell peal possible. Work will start early in the new year.

I feel particularly thankful, because it was explained to me that the Minster would not be able to seek the services of an assistant organist until the money for the refurbishment of the bells had been found. We can now look forward to steps being taken towards this additional goal of augmenting the choir and its staff, "as befitting a Minster".

February 2008 The bells are, happily, still being rung, but there has been no mention at the Minster for some considerable while as to when work will commence. Fortunately, the article in the Sunderland Echo in introducing the appeal was obviously far too pessimistic and there has been no need to close down the campanological activities --- but for how long will this continue ??

April 2008 Still no word yet, but I have emailed the Minster office with an enquiry, so should have something to report 'any time yet' !!?

Sept 2008 Once again, my enquiries have failed to gain a response, as happens with all matters that I raise in connection with Minster life. Whether this is a concerted decision or something that all individuals there have decided upon, I do not know

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Page updated by David Herring October 2006