Bembridge, Holy TrinityBembridge has a chime of three bells, hung dead in a west-facing tower.
The first church was built as a chapel of ease for Brading in 1827, built to the design by John Nash. The Trinity House Board paid for a steeple as it would be a useful seamark. As work began in the 1840s to enlarge the chapel, cracks appeared! It was then decided that a new church should be built on firmer grounds. The architect for it was Thomas Hellyer. |
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The bells
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-3-18 cwt |
25.75" |
1445.5 Hz |
F# |
George Mears & Co |
1865 |
Yes |
Dead |
2 |
4-1-6 cwt |
27.63" |
1286.5 Hz |
E |
George Mears & Co |
1865 |
Yes |
Dead |
3 |
5-1-14 cwt |
29.75" |
1171.5 Hz |
D |
Mears & Stainbank |
1889 |
Yes |
Dead |
3 Bells, 5-1-14 in D
In 1865, George Mears & Co of Whitechapel supplied a chime of 3 bells, tuned to the key of D.
The bells, frame, fittings, and their labour came to £146 5d.
Each were cast with a conventional canon, strapped to wooden deadstocks.
The foundry name and date was stamped into the cope around the inscription band, and an additional sentence on the waist. Sadly, the inscription for the tenor is lost, but the present tenor suggests it had
WATCH UNTO PRAYER
on the waist.
The bells are operated in 2 ways:
Inside the bells are levered clappers that ropes are attached too.
Additionally, an Ellacombe apparatus was supplied to strike separate hammers.
From the ground floor, you'll notice another rope that falls in the middle of the tower. This is connected to a clock hammer on bell No* 2.
The clock was made by Dent of London in 1861, and has both a going and strike train. As mentioned before, it strikes the hours on the 2nd. The clock is in the chamber above the bells in the spire, and is accessed by wooden steps.
To this day, it's still manually wound.
In 1889, the tenor was recast by Mears & Stainbank, again with a conventional canon. The former tenor weighed
5-0-3cwt, whereas the present one is slightly heavier.
The frame is made of timber, and stretches north to south. It has a pair of trusses composed of a group of 6.K type. It is raised and supported on the tower corbels.
In 1865, George Mears & Co of Whitechapel supplied a chime of 3 bells, tuned to the key of D.
The bells, frame, fittings, and their labour came to £146 5d.
Each were cast with a conventional canon, strapped to wooden deadstocks.
The foundry name and date was stamped into the cope around the inscription band, and an additional sentence on the waist. Sadly, the inscription for the tenor is lost, but the present tenor suggests it had
WATCH UNTO PRAYER
on the waist.
The bells are operated in 2 ways:
Inside the bells are levered clappers that ropes are attached too.
Additionally, an Ellacombe apparatus was supplied to strike separate hammers.
From the ground floor, you'll notice another rope that falls in the middle of the tower. This is connected to a clock hammer on bell No* 2.
The clock was made by Dent of London in 1861, and has both a going and strike train. As mentioned before, it strikes the hours on the 2nd. The clock is in the chamber above the bells in the spire, and is accessed by wooden steps.
To this day, it's still manually wound.
In 1889, the tenor was recast by Mears & Stainbank, again with a conventional canon. The former tenor weighed
5-0-3cwt, whereas the present one is slightly heavier.
The frame is made of timber, and stretches north to south. It has a pair of trusses composed of a group of 6.K type. It is raised and supported on the tower corbels.
3 bells in fairly good condition, although some metal fittings have rusted. Woodwork looks good. All bells have their cast in crown staples.
Visited: 24/04/2023 with Heather & Andrew Leaver.
Visited: 24/04/2023 with Heather & Andrew Leaver.
Recording of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominal, using Simpson's theory.
Key [measured in cents]:
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Bell 1
Hum - 395Hz - G+13
Prime - 681Hz - F-43
Tierce - 873Hz - A-13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1175.5Hz - D+1
Nominal - 1445.5Hz - F# -40
Prime - 681Hz - F-43
Tierce - 873Hz - A-13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1175.5Hz - D+1
Nominal - 1445.5Hz - F# -40
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Bell 2
Hum - 363Hz - F# -32
Prime - 595.5Hz - D+24
Tierce - 776Hz - G-17 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1049Hz - C+4
Nominal - 1286.5Hz - E-42
Prime - 595.5Hz - D+24
Tierce - 776Hz - G-17 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1049Hz - C+4
Nominal - 1286.5Hz - E-42
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Bell 3
Hum - 332Hz - E+12
Prime - 578Hz - D-27
Tierce - 726.5Hz - F# -31 (major 3rd)
Quint - 953Hz - Bb+38
Nominal - 1171.5Hz - D-4
Prime - 578Hz - D-27
Tierce - 726.5Hz - F# -31 (major 3rd)
Quint - 953Hz - Bb+38
Nominal - 1171.5Hz - D-4
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Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is within the inscription band*
1 |
G. MEARS & CO. FOUNDERS LONDON 1865. .PRAISE YE THE LORD. |
2 |
G. MEARS & CO. FOUNDERS LONDON 1865. THE TIME IS SHORT |
3 |
MEARS & STAINBANK, WHITECHAPEL FOUNDRY LONDON. WATCH UNTO PRAYER CAST 1864, RECAST 1889. |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Additions |
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Sources:
.Church Guide
.Christopher J Pickford
.Church Guide
.Christopher J Pickford
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
