Their history & that of the Bell ringers
With grateful thanks to Sue Dyke for her help with this article.
In 1618 there were three new bells in the old church tower, they had been cast by Henry Knight of Reading. There may have been other bells, perhaps a Sanctus Bell. The bells were taken down (about 1660) and stored in the church while the tower was being rebuilt, this was completed in 1666. In 1673 the Vicar noted that the church “lyes more like a barne with five good bells lying here and there”. A new oak frame for five bells had been constructed, but almost immediately a new treble pit was added and three more bells were cast in 1675 by Ellis and Henry Knight of Reading. The bells were hung anticlockwise, as were many of the local churches on this side of the Thames.
The fifth was recast by Samuel Knight in 1701 and in the mid 1800’s any work needed on the bells was done by Alfred White of Besseleigh near Abingdon.
The following newspaper article dated March 1831 tells of an incident in the Bell tower which resulted in the death of Joseph Beisley in December 1830
In 1871, at the same time as the church clock was installed, the old third bell which had broken in 1860 was recast by Mears & Stainbank and was rehung by Frederick White of Appleton. The funds were raised by public subscription and the names of the committee and church wardens are inscribed on the bell.
John Bailey – Langford White – Edwin Tripp – Joseph Tubb – James Tubb – James Shrubb
Sometime in the early 1900’s the six bells were rehung (still anticlockwise) by Richard White with new headstocks, strap gudgeons and self-aligning ball bearings.
The Absolom family were a mainstay of the bell ringers in Warborough and in 1927 a presentation was arranged to acknowledge Alfred Absolom a veteran bellringer who had been ringing for 56 years and it was noted that he had rung in the New Year for 55 consecutive years.
The old six bells were augmented to eight in 1955 when Mears and Stainbank cast two new bells and recast the old Fourth to become the new Sixth. They were rehung clockwise in a new steel frame by Frank White.
In 1998 the bellringers raised the sum of £7500 for the refurbishment of the bells (with new gudgeons, clapper bearings and bushes) The work was carried out by Whites of Appleton
Since that time the bells have been serviced regularly by Whites of Appleton. to ensure that they are kept in good order.
Some Bell Facts & Figures
Although the bells at St Laurence were regularly rung, we know a bit more about the bell ringers from the 1950’s when the old wooden frame was replaced with a steel one and the six bells were augmented to eight.
This was the cue for local bell ringer Frank Absolom to recruit and train a new band of young ringers.
It was just a few years later, around 1958 when Andrew Howes started to ring the bells under the instruction of Frank the Tower Captain, and the Howes family became synonymous with the Bells at St Laurence because in 1960 he was joined by his sister Susan and brother Roger.
Susan and Roger Howes were elected to the Oxford Diocesan Guild (ODG) on 22nd October 1960.
Both Roger and Andrew moved from Warborough but continued to ring bells at Mold, Clywd and Wylye, Wiltshire, respectively.
On February 10th 1961 The Ringing World magazine reports ‘Outstanding was the peal at Warborough rung by the local band, which was the first peal for all the band except for the conductor, Frank Absolom. The method was Plain Bob Triples.
This peal of 5040 Plain Bob Triples had lasted 3 hours and 5 minutes and was rung on 21st Jan 1961. The band were made up of Victor Fox –Treble, Helen Butler – 2, Susan Howes –3, Margaret Thewlis – 4, Gerald McIlone – 5, Andrew Howes – 6, Frank Absolom – 7, Michael Welsh – Tenor.
On 9th June 1962 the band rang at Dorchester, another peal lasting 3 hours and 5 minutes. The band were Susan Howes, Helen Butler, Roger Howes, Robin Dyke, Gerald McIlone, Andrew Howes, Robert Blond (conductor) and David Slade
No records remain between 1965 and 1984
In 1984 the bells were silent. The Vicar, Rev. Graham Canning decided it was time to resurrect ringing. A meeting was held 2nd May 1984 when 7 volunteers from the village were present. Pamela Cooke was appointed Tower Captain. John Sare visited to teach the new band.
1985 Electricity was installed in the bell chamber and the floor insulated with hardboard and fibreglass. Ringers now totalled 12. John Sare reported that the ringers had made good progress.
1987 Sue, now married to Robin Dyke returned to the village
1988 New ropes were installed in November at a cost of £325. Muffled bells were rung for the funeral of Theo King.
1989 The flagpole and weather cock was refurbished by Smallbones of Streatley. Pamela Cooke retired as Tower Captain and Sue Dyke was appointed.
On 18th February 1991, to celebrate the thirty years since Frank Absolom trained his new band of ringers a peal of Warborough Delight Major rung at Warborough. The band included two of the original members and were Sue Dyke, Colin Turner, Peter Bridle, William Butler, Mike Winterbourne, June Webb, Timothy Pett and Andrew Howes.
1993 The Ringing Chamber was refurbished with new carpet, cupboards and bench made by John Bland.
1994 The Ringing Chamber was decorated and a clock purchased in memory of Roy Cooke, one of the original members of the band from 1984
1998 Whites inspected the bells and reported that repairs (Gudgeons, bearings and pulleys and paint of the frame) were needed at a cost of £7500. An appeal for funds was launched and several events organised. The funds were raised in 6 months and work commenced in April.
1999 New ropes were fitted at a cost of £947 and the rectification work was completed.
2000 The bells were rung for the new Millenium at 12 noon on 1st January 2000.
On 22nd October 2010 to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Sue & Roger Howes joining the ODG a Quarter Peal of 1260 Stedman Triples was rung. Many ringers believe that Stedman Triples is one of the easiest standard methods to ring but one of the most difficult to conduct. Unfortunately, Stedman Triples has the peculiarity that even so-called experts tend to be easily displaced in the method when a trip occurs, particularly in the slow work. Sue and Roger, as conductor, were joined by their elder brother, Andrew and five other members of the Guild.
Sue was presented with a Testimonial Certificate from the ODG in recognition of her 50 years membership of the ODG. Sue’s membership continues to this day.
A week later, a band of ringers from the Guild, rang a full Peal of Superlative Surprise Major. Superlative Surprise is the name of a method of changing the order of the bells and Major means all 8 bells change position every time the ropes are pulled.
In 2012 children from St Laurence School were invited to join the Olympic Ring to mark the opening of the London Olympics on 27th July.
Later in 2012 & 2013 some of the children from St Laurence School attended weekly lunch time classes to learn bellringing. They made good progress and were able to ring rounds for their School Christmas Church service in 2013.
Sadly, since the COVID pandemic in 2020 – 2021 the bells have been largely silent due to retirements and others moving from the village.
On the coronation of King Charles III on 6th May 2023 the Warborough band, by now no longer a full band were joined by ringers from Dorchester and took part in the nationwide ‘Ring for the King’
But the bells remain fairly silent. Visiting ringers are welcomed and with the help of the Dorchester ringers the bells ring out for weddings.
Compiled by Lynda Raynor