Bellringing
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The church has a ring of eight bells re-hung by John Warner and Sons in 1877 following the rebuilding of the tower in the previous year. Three of the bells, the present fourth (Thomas Mears, 1810), sixth (James Bagley, 1712) and seventh (Ellis Knight, 1637) were retained from the ring of six that had hung in the old tower, with the other three bells (the present second, third and fifth) being ‘recast’ with the treble and tenor added to form the present ring of eight. The bells have their original fittings (including plain bearings) which are now very worn, and repair work is often needed to keep them ringing. During 2005, a small working party cleared out over 54Kg of accumulated rubble, guano and congealed oil from the belfry, cleaned the sliders and runner boards, and oiled/greased other working parts. A small improvement in the ‘go’ of the bells has been noticed but a restoration of the complete installation is now long overdue. Over the last few years, many members of the Acton band have moved away and there are now insufficient members to sustain regular service ringing or a practice. However, with assistance from ringers at other towers in the area (in particular, Chiswick, Barnes, Willesden and Twickenham) there is a monthly quarter peal, usually after morning service on the first Sunday of each month. At weekends and on weekday evenings the bells are also available for quarter peals and for general ringing by visiting bands, subject to bookings in the church or adjacent church hall. Please get in touch with the Tower Captain if you want to make a booking. For special services or other special occasions, additional ringing is arranged. A peal (two and three quarter hours ringing) was rung to mark the retirement as Rector of Jackie Fox, and a quarter peal was rung immediately prior to the service of induction of the present Rector, David Brammer. Details of this ringing are set out below.
Rung immediately before the service of induction as Rector of Acton of Rev'd David Brammer.
There have been 134 peals at Acton since the tower was rebuilt in 1876 and the bells were augmented from six to eight in 1877. The first peal, 5040 Grandsire Triples, was in 1878. This peal and many others are recorded on boards which adorn the ringing room walls. Two new boards were installed a number of years ago, one of which records a peal in a new method named after St Mary’s: St Mary’s Bob Triples rung in 1997.
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