Our bells
A complete virgin peal
St Veep tower is fortunate to have a complete ring of Pennington bells. Dove’s Guide for Church Bell Ringers gives details of the bells of 171 churches in Cornwall, 89 still have Pennington bells in their towers. However, only ten of those churches have a complete, original ring:
Blisland 1790
Calstock 1773
Jacobstow 1771
Lanreath 1773
St Dominic 1773
St Neot 1777
St Pinnoc 1803 (4 bells)
Treneglos 1712 (4 bells)
Tywardreath 1774
St Veep 1770
The bells of St Veep are particularly special being the only maiden peal in England. A maiden peal being a set of bells which were found to be be perfectly in tune when they were cast. It is said that John Pennington leapt with joy when he tapped the bells with his hammer and found them to be the best he had ever cast.
Maintaining the Peal
Like all precious things the bells need to be cared for and loved. They were taken down in 1935 for cleaning and the Medieval bell frame was replaced by John Taylor a Bell Founder of Loughborough. The bells were laid in the Churchyard.
After a decree from the Bishop in 2015 the bells were once again inspected and it was discovered that not only was the bell frame badly corroded but the bell hangings needed replacing. So it was in August 2015 a committee was formed and the bell appeal was started. The estimate for the work which needed to be carried out was £120,000. At this point many would have balked, not so the newly formed committee and with the help of Dick Stern they began their campaign. The local community raised £25,000, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant of £55,000 and with Dick’s advice further grants were obtained from SITA Cornwall Trust, Cornwall Historic Churches Trust, Truro Diocesan Ringers, All Churches Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and the Wolfson Foundation. The East Cornwall Bell Ringers Association and local Church Towers also contributed to the fund. The money was raised and in April 2017 the Committee informed their contractors, Heritage Cornwall Limited, M&M Scaffolding and Nicholson’s Engineering that the project was set to go. In June of this year building work commenced. The tower was re-pointed, rotten stone was replaced and cracks were repaired. The bells were lowered in July. All were welcomed to view the bells on the 13thof July as they were displayed in the centre aisle of the Church. Lerryn Primary School had their own private viewing that afternoon and the bells set off on their journey to Bridport the following day.
A group from St Veep and their friends went to Bridport in August to visit the foundry. Andrew Nicholson was on hand to explain the process and timescale. The 10 hundredweight tenor bell inscribed with “William Penwarne, Vicar AD 1770. I call the quick to Church and the Dead to Grave” had been sent to Cambridgeshire to have a hairline crack repaired. In September Heritage Cornwall Limited offered members of the public the chance to climb the scaffolding and enjoy the view from the top of the tower.
The bells were rehung in November 2017
Gallery
The Bell Ringers' Hymn
Parishioner Jim Pearce, of West Tencreek, wrote this hymn for the occasion of a Ringing Festival at St Veep on 25th July 1931
A Ringers' Hymn
O Praise our God today, Enjoyed by ringers all; Accept their work for Thee, we pray, And bless our Festival.
Our bells we hold so dear, Peal out to distant parts, Their gladsome strains are sure to cheer The hearer's cheerless heart.
In "CHANGES", "TUNES" or "ROUNDS" Pull well with arms of steel, Each timely pull ensures good sound, And makes a merry peal.
Some lessons learn, we may From bells rung tunefully; Lord help us all to live each day In perfect harmony.
Ring Cornish bells with glee Your soothing melody, They teach us, Lord, to worship Thee In deep humility.
Brothers, your voices raise, With heart and soul we sing; The bells resound our thanks and praise, As joyously they Ring.
Tune - St Michael
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