Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers- Soulbury

Established January 17 1881

All Saints, Soulbury, Bucks
Central Bucks branch of the ODG

All Saints, Soulbury©PB 4 Apr 2004

Dedication: All Saints, Soulbury

Practice night: Thu 7.30pm

The Bells (6) 15-0-21 last restored 2000

Draught: Long with guides
Audibility: 2½ - (On a scale of 1 to 5, 1=faint 5=very loud)

Access to ringing chamber: Ground floor The following information comes from Peter Hayward of Hayward Mills Associates.

The inscriptions on the 5 old bells and sanctus are from A.H.Cocks page 566.

In 2000 the bellframe was strengthened, the bells rehung with new fittings and a new salley guide frame installed.

A ring of 6; tenor 15-0-21, diameter 43¾”, tuned to E.

Bell	Weight cwt-qr-lb	Diameter (inches)	Strike note	Date cast	Founder	Foundry location	Inscription
treble	6-3-20	31½	C^#	1661	Henry Knight II & Ellis Knight II	Reading	ROBERT [border] LOVETT [flower] Esq +66+ H[Shield K3]K
2	6-1-21	33¼	B	1697	Chandler family	Drayton Parslow	CHNDLER MADE ME 1697
3	7-3-0	34¾	A	1936	Mears & Stainbank	Whitechapel
4	10-2-4	38½	G^#	c 1450	Unknown	Wokingham	[Cross F4] Sancta Martine Ora Pro Nobis [Lion’s head F2] [Coin Q3]
5	12-0-18	40½	F^#	c 1450	Unknown	Wokingham	[Cross F4] Sancta Margareta Ora Pro Nobis [Lion’s head F2] [Coin Q3]
tenor	15-0-21	43¾	E	1592	Bartholomew Atton	Buckingham	[Cross G6] FRAVNCES [Sprig P4] [G6] [P4] [Cross D13] [Shield W66] LOVEVET [G6] [D13] [P4] 1592 [D13] [Saltire + Cross M5] A [M5] [D13] [P4]
sanctus		15¹/₈		1714	Richard Chandler III	Drayton Parslow	R C MADE ME 1714

Notes:

The old 3rd bell was very similar to the current treble but Cocks reports (1897) “is cracked, a large piece broken out of the lip”.
The “N” in “FRAVNCES” on the tenor is reversed.
The script on bells 4 and 5 is Gothic with crowned capitals.
The border and small flower on the treble are reproduced below from Cocks Plate XXII:

dragon and oak leaf border

four petal rose

Architecture

From the Guide book to Soulbury

The tower dates from Tudor times. Extensive restoration to stabilize the stone-work and roof of the church started in 1995 and continued for 5 years. This was followed by the removal and recasting of the 6 main bells. With the bells removed, the bell frame and tower were strengthened and the two held together with steel joists. The bells were returned and fitted to the original bell frame, some of which is made of ancient ships’ timbers, at the beginning of 2000. The restoration was by Hayward Mills Associates. The ringing of the bells of Soulbury started in May 2000, the first time in living memory and continues with the bell ringing team weekly and at most services.

Unauthographed

Church facilities: toilet

Travel Details: OS Grid Ref: SP882271. Sufficient space to park.

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