The Holy Cross Band of Bellringers

The Holy Cross band consists of some fifteen members and is always open for new members to join – please contact the Captain of Bells, Mr. C. Macve on Uckfield 765091 for more information.

It is a group of very loyal ringers who come to Holy Cross from all around the local Sussex area.  They meet every Tuesday evening and start ringing from 8.00pm, and they are also in action every Sunday morning and evening.

The band is open to sponsorship and in addition to ringing for Weddings they will also ring to celebrate a special event or occasion, such as the birth of a child, a special birthday or anniversary.  The people, or persons, making the donation for the ringing will also receive a commemorative certificate.

Every other Tuesday during the summer the band will also ring at Little Horsted Church.

Over the course of the year the band engages in wide variety of social events and these usually feature the ‘away ringing special’, when other churches are visited for the sole purpose of ringing the Bells.  They have been on ‘ringing visits’ to churches in Kent, Surrey, London, West Sussex (including Chichester Cathedral) and the Isle of Wight.  When the weather is fine they will have a Barbeque, or if they feel more energetic go on cross country walks.  In the winter they prefer to meet as a group for dinner – usually at a local pub.

Become a bell ringer
Join a tradition dating back 400 years.  Come and learn the art of "Change Ringing".
The origins of change ringing lie in the sixteenth century when church bells began to be hung with a full wheel.  This gave ringers control of their bell, which allows sets of bells (rings) to be rung in a continously changing pattern. 
Music is created by moving bells up and down the ringing order to a defined sequence of changes know as a "method".  Learning a few simple methods allows ringers to join in with other bands in towers around the country and around the world.

Bell ringing is a team activity that stimulates the brain and helps to keep you fit.  Many consider ringing to be their contribution to church life, others do it for the pure pleasure it brings.  Ringers come from all walks of life and range in age from ten to those in their eighties.

"If you can ride a bicycle, you can ring!"

The Bells

All the bells were purchased from the Whitechapel foundry of William Mears and bear the company’s name, the date 1779, and inscriptions.
In 1779 the original six bells were installed with two treble bells added in 1785.
The bells remained more or less untouched bar replacement of bell ropes and bell house bearings until 1905.
In this year when the Rector was E. Sanderson and the Churchwardens were R. Streatfeild and T. Bannister, all eight bells were taken back to London for recasting and tuning. The total weight of the bells is a little over 54 tons. They were erected in a new cast iron framework on oak bearers mounted on four new steel joists. The total cost of the refurbishment was £350.16s.9d. In 1956 the plain race and cap bearings on the bells were replaced with ball bearing races.
The Tenor bell
Weighs just less than 12 cwt and is inscribed “Whilst thus we join in cheerful sounds may love and loyalty abound.
VII bell
Weighs 9 cwt and is inscribed “These bells were purchased by voluntary subscription by the inhabitants of Uckfield and their many friends in 1779”
V1 bell
Weighs a little more than 7cwt and is inscribed “Ye people all who hear me ring be faithful to your God and King”
V bell
Weighs 6½ cwt and is inscribed “Peace and good neighbourhood”
IV bell
Weighs 5½ cwt and is inscribed “If you have a judicious ear you’ll own my voice is sweet and clear”
III bell
Weighs 5 cwt and is inscribed “I mean to make it understood that though I’m little I’m good”
II – Treble bell
Weighs 4½ cwt and is inscribed “W. Mears fecit (Latin – made) 1785 the voluntary subscription”
The Treble bell
Weighs 4 cwt and is inscribed “These 2 Trebles raised by voluntary subscription in 1785 by Messrs. Lough, Markwick and others to make a Peal of 8”

St.Saviour’s
The bell from the demolished St. Saviour’s Church was hung as a service bell for the St. Saviour’s Chapel in 1975.
It has the inscription “Mears & Stainbank to the glory of God and in memory of Henry Tyhurst of Uckfield A.D. 1904”