The bells at St Peter’s are a fine ring of eight cast by Taylor’s of Loughborough and installed in a new steel frame in 1959 and are very highly regarded in terms of their sound outside the tower and also the ‘go’ of the bells and the sound inside the tower for the ringer.

The bells have needed little attention over the last 60 years and it is now time to overhaul some of the bearings and fittings, repaint the bellframe and to look at improvements that should be made to ensure the bells serve the church and village well for the next 60 years and for future  generations of ringers.

While the bells are a joy to ring for a band able to manage a heavy 8, which was the aim of installing them in 1959, the weight is a bit of a challenge for a local village band and we often ring the 6 lightest bells. These are not tuned as a true ring of 6 would be and we propose to augment the bells with two smaller bells. This will give a true harmonic light six as well as retaining the current ring of eight and creating a glorious ring of ten.

The present bells themselves do not need any work other than surface cleaning. The bells and frame will be taken from the tower to Taylor’s workshop and thoroughly overhauled.

The bell frame and headstocks will be shot blasted to remove surface rust and then galvanized and repainted. 

The bell bearings, clappers and pulleys will be renewed and  overhauled. 

While the bells are out of the tower, the boarding behind the louvres will be replaced with adjustable openings to allow better control of the sound and the oak louvres visible on the outside of the tower will be renewed.  

Two new bells will be cast to blend with the existing ring with new frame, headstocks and fittings. 

The clock will be converted to electric winding to give space for the new bells.

The 10 bells and frame will be reinstalled in the tower.

We ask for your help to either make a regular or single donation to StPetersChurchAltonStaffsBellFund.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, quick and secure, and if you are able to do so, please chose to gift aid your donation, which increases your donation to us by 25% at no extra cost to you. So, from a gift aided donation of £20, we will actually receive £25.

Whilst we are fundraising via the Lichfield Diocesan Trust, all the money you donate to StPetersChurchAltonStaffsBellFund, will be forwarded to us, but you must specify on the JustGiving page, that the donation is for StPetersChurchAltonStaffsBellFund.

Thank you so much, in anticipation of your support.


Chris Mellor                                 Alan Walters
Treasurer                                     Tower Captain