St Nicholas' Church, Piddington
Bells
The western tower of the church has a ring of five bells. Details of each are given below.
Bell
Treble
Second
Third
Fourth
Tenor
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Inscription
THE GIFT OF MRS. CHARLES BROWN /
JUBILEE 1887 / REV. THOMAS IVENS VICAR / LLEWELINS & JAMES / BRISTOL THE GIFT OF MRS. CHARLES BROWN / JUBILEE 1887 / F.WHITE & SONS BELLHANGERS APPLETON / THOMAS BROWN / THOMAS MAY CHURCHWARDENS / LLEWELINS & JAMES / BRISTOL THIS BELL WAS RECAST AND THE WHOLE PEAL [sic] REHUNG / AT THE EXPENSE OF MRS. CHARLES BROWN / IN THE JUBILEE YEAR OF QUEEN VICTORIA / 1887 / LLEWELINS & JAMES / BRISTOL BENEDICTA SIT SANCTA TRINITAS (Fig P5 six times) / JOHN WALKER, JOHN LOWE, CHURCHWARDENS, 1738. ED: HEMINS FECIT (Fig N9) WILLIAM : SHAW : JOHN, HONOR. CHURCH WARDENS (Fig P5 four times) / EDWARD : HEMINS, BISSITER, FECIT 1729 (Fig P5 six times) |
Approximate weight (cwt)
4
4.5 5 6 8 |
'In 1553 there were three small bells, a sanctus, and a hand-bell. ... The second bell was recast in 1705, and the tenor cast by Hemins of Bicester in 1729, the fourth bell being run by the same firm in 1738. In 1887 the third was recast, and a treble and second provided by Mrs. Brown of Manor Farm' (British History Online).
Frederick Sharpe, the renowned expert on bells and ringing, in his survey of Oxfordshire bells described the bells thus:
'The three smallest bells were cast at the Bristol foundry; the two largest at the Bicester foundry. [You can read more about the Bicester bell foundry here.] The treble and second were added to the ring in 1887.
The bells hang in a sixteenth-century type frame, originally made with pits for four bells. Although there were only three bells in the tower before 1887 the frame had contained four at some time. The gear, type C, is by Messrs. F. White and Sons, who added one additional pit to the frame.
The predecessor of the third, which before 1887 was the treble of the old ring of three bells, was cast at the Drayton Parslow foundry, and, like the former bells at Launton, bore the date 1701.*
*Note by the Rev. T. A. Turner, circa 1880. Walters' MS., Society of Antiquaries Library.
6 Edw. VI states: Item 3 smale belles in the steple. Item a scantis [sic] [i.e. sanctus] bell and 2 hand belles.
Visited: F.S., 1923–1951'
(Sharpe, 1954)
Frederick Sharpe was born in Launton and, among his many other accomplishments, he founded the Launton Handbell Ringers. You can read more about him on the Whiting Society of Ringers website, which also contains a huge range of resources on bells and bellringing.
Frederick Sharpe, the renowned expert on bells and ringing, in his survey of Oxfordshire bells described the bells thus:
'The three smallest bells were cast at the Bristol foundry; the two largest at the Bicester foundry. [You can read more about the Bicester bell foundry here.] The treble and second were added to the ring in 1887.
The bells hang in a sixteenth-century type frame, originally made with pits for four bells. Although there were only three bells in the tower before 1887 the frame had contained four at some time. The gear, type C, is by Messrs. F. White and Sons, who added one additional pit to the frame.
The predecessor of the third, which before 1887 was the treble of the old ring of three bells, was cast at the Drayton Parslow foundry, and, like the former bells at Launton, bore the date 1701.*
*Note by the Rev. T. A. Turner, circa 1880. Walters' MS., Society of Antiquaries Library.
6 Edw. VI states: Item 3 smale belles in the steple. Item a scantis [sic] [i.e. sanctus] bell and 2 hand belles.
Visited: F.S., 1923–1951'
(Sharpe, 1954)
Frederick Sharpe was born in Launton and, among his many other accomplishments, he founded the Launton Handbell Ringers. You can read more about him on the Whiting Society of Ringers website, which also contains a huge range of resources on bells and bellringing.
Bellframe wheel, top view
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Bellframe wheel, corner view
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Sources
'Parishes: Piddington', in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 5, Bullingdon Hundred, ed. Mary D. Lobel (London, 1957), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol5/pp249-258 [accessed 4 September 2025].
Sharpe, F. (1954) The Church Bells of Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire Record Society.
Whiting Society of Ringers, https://www.whitingsociety.org.uk/old-ringing-books/sharpe-bells-oxfordshire.html
Sharpe, F. (1954) The Church Bells of Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire Record Society.
Whiting Society of Ringers, https://www.whitingsociety.org.uk/old-ringing-books/sharpe-bells-oxfordshire.html
Acknowledgement
Photos: Stan Hearn
Bellringing at St Nicholas'
HAVE A GO AT BELLRINGING!
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St Nicholas’ Church, Piddington, has a working ring of five historic bells in the
tower. Until recently, they were rung regularly and to mark special occasions, and were an important part of village life. We’d love to recruit some new bellringers so we can keep this tradition going into the future. Perhaps you’ve tried bellringing before and are considering taking it up again. Or perhaps you’ve never tried and are interested to know what it’s all about. Ringing the bells in a beautiful building like St Nicholas’ Church can have many benefits: physical and mental exercise; social activity; and a sense of achievement. You don’t need to be a churchgoer – just willing to have a go. Interested in learning the basics? There is a small friendly group of learners in Ambrosden, who get together every Tuesday morning in St Mary’s Church, and who are happy to welcome people from Piddington to join them. Contact Martin Richardson: [email protected] for more information. See them in action: rayvalleybenefice.org/bell-ringing-in-ambrosden Already know how to ring? We’d love to hear from you about ringing in our church. Contact Margaret, the Churchwarden: [email protected]. Find out about our bells: piddingtonvillageoxfordshire.org.uk/bells |
The Piddington Bellringers
Below are some photos of the Piddington bellringing team over the years.
Listen to the bells
To hear the bells of St Nicholas, Piddington, being rung, go to the 'Piddington on Film' page, where there are several videos.
The Piddington bellringing team, June 2016 (left to right): Chris Taylor, Wendy Taylor, Morwen Ashton, Tony Pearce (captain), Cheryl Coggins, Pam Newell and Rachel Pennington.
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The Piddington bellringing team, June 2017 (left to right): Chris Taylor, Morwen Ashton, Pam Newell, Cheryl Coggins, Rachel Pennington and Tony Pearce (captain).
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Ringing for Remembrance, 11 November 2018. Photo: Maggie Pearce
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Piddington Bellringers rang three half muffled bells and observed one minute's silence in honour of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, St. Nicholas Church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, 17th April 2021. (L to R): Cheryl Coggins, Phil Jones, Morwen Ashton (captain).
Photo: Tiz Ashton
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Remembrance Day, 14 November 2021. (L to R) Shirley Grant, Cheryl Coggins,
Phil Jones and Morwen Ashton (captain)
Piddington Bellringers rang all five bells for the Coronation of King Charles III, 6 May 2023, St. Nicholas Church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, 6 May 2023.
Photo: Mike Ashton
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Piddington Bellringers rang muffled bells and observed two minutes silence to mark the Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, St. Nicholas Church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, 19 September 2022. (L to R) Cheryl Coggins, Morwen Ashton, Shirley Grant and Phil Jones.
Photo: Tiz Ashton
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World War I aeroplane propeller
The ‘cross-like’ memorial in the belfry (in the background in the photo above) is actually a cut down WW1 aeroplane propeller, dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Richard Stone (known as Stoney to his friends). Lieutenant Stone was killed in action in France on the 9th August 1918. He was 19 years old. Read more about Lieutenant Richard Stone here.