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St. Matthew, Midgham, Berks
Newbury branch of the ODG
St. Matthew, Midgham
St. Matthew, Midgham © KMC Aug 2004
Dedication: St. Matthew, Midgham

Service Ringing: Sun 9.00 (except 3)

Practice night: Thu 7.30pm by arrangement

The Bells (6) 5-0-9

Access to ringing chamber: Ground floor

In 1987 the oldest bell, cast in 1674 by Ellis and Henry Knight of Reading, was found to be unsuitable for recasting; it is now stored in the Lady Chapel.

1674 bell in chapel
Bell cast in 1674 by Ellis and Henry Knight. © KMC Aug 2004

The other five bells dating from 1869 to 1906 were recast and a new sixth added. (details from a leaflet in the church dated 2002)

The following information comes from Andrew Bull

Gear: 1988.

A ring of 6, tenor 5-0-9, tuned to C
Bell Weight
cwt-qr-lb		 Strike
Note		 Date
cast		 Founder Foundry
location
Treble 2-0-0 A 1988 Whitechapel Bellfoundry London
2 2-1-0 G 1988 Whitechapel Bellfoundry London
3 2-2-0 F 1988 Whitechapel Bellfoundry London
4 3-0-0 E 1988 Whitechapel Bellfoundry London
5 4-0-0 D 1988 Whitechapel Bellfoundry London
Tenor 5-0-9 C 1988 Whitechapel Bellfoundry London

Notes:

  1. Details of the previous ring of 6 dating from 1869 to 1906 can be found in F.Sharpe The Church Bells of Berkshire page 181.
  2. They included as third and fourth the two old bells which formerly hung in the old chapel demolished in 1868 when the present church was built.The oldest bell was cracked, so it was recast in 1869.
  3. In 1870 a further treble was added and in 1898 the ring was made up to 5 with the addition of a new treble and tenor.
  4. The ring was made up to 6 by the addition of a new tenor in 1906.
Architecture:

Church services in Midgham date from at least as far back as 1622. They were performed in a chapel in the park near to the former Midgham House which was demolished in 1967. There were probably 2 bells in this chapel, which were moved to the new chapel built in 1714 to replace the old one.

In 1868, the then owner of Midgham House, Mr Benjamin Buck Greene, demolished that chapel and arranged for the present church to be built by the architect John Johnson. Polished granite columns are used in the arcade, the largest, just inside the entrance, is thicker than the others because it supports the tower.

The chamber organ was presented in 1872 by the then vicar, Rev Errington.

The font is on the left side as you enter through the porch door. It has a fine font cover designed and carved by Collier and Flack. The Bells are rung from the ground floor just in front of the font.

font and bell ropes
Font and sallies of the six bells. © KMC Aug 2004


Points of interest in church:

The church was built in 1869 in the Decorated style, flint with stone dressings. The spire broaches are decorated with symbols of the Evangelists.

Travel Details: OS Grid Ref: SU556672 - Park in street
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