We treasure buildings like St Peters as they are part of our heritage, but there is another aspect to heritage, they are the stories of the people over the years and generations.
We would like to hear your stories of your connection with St Peters, whether you were christened, confirmed or married there, or perhaps your parents were? Did you sing in the choir or live around the corner? If you have a picture all the better.
Just create your own post in our Facebook group. If you would rather we posted it for you, you can email details to us.
There is a ong tradition of bell ringing at St Peters. Prior to 1734 we only had four bells but in that year those bells were re-cast an d four new ones added. This work was undertaken by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester, part of a family business of bell founders dating back to 1685.
The bells were re-hung in 1893 and again in 1928.
We have a collection of bell boards that commemorate special bell ringing occasions.
The Ancient Society of College Youths on Friday June 15th 1739 rand 5040 Bob Major in 3 hours 12 minutes. The Peterborough Diocesan Guild, Northampton Branch on Saturday July 22nd 1939 5040 Bob Major in 2 hours 58 minutes.The Central Northamptonshire Association on Sturday may 22nd 1897 in 3 hours 8 minutes a true and complete Peal of Grandsire Triples 5040 changes (Vicars Six Part Peal) were rung on these bells. The first peal for 157 years (since 1740) on these bells.The Central Northamptonshire Association rand 5040 changes in honour of Queen Mary’s birthday a Peal fo Grandsire Triples in 3 hours 18 minutes on May 26th 1913.The Peterborough Diicesan Guild on Tuesday 31 January 1991 rang 5152 Cambridge Surprise Major in 2 hours 53 minutes as a retirement compliment to Venerable Bazil Marsh BA MLitt, rector of St Peter 1964-1991.The Young Bell Ringers’ Cycling Tour 2009.
Graham Bandy’s great great grandfather was Robert Austin.
Here in 1884 Robert Austin and his Dyers and Cleaners business appears in the Blue Book directory. Close to St Peter and the Old Black Lion.
The arrow points to where the general consensus is as to the location of the Dyers and Cleaners….That is how close my family were to St Peters and the Old Black Lion. The line of tress is St Peter’s churchyard. The Old Black Lion is quite patent in this 1920s picture.
Two members of the Austin family appear amoung the names on our Bell Boards. William Austin in 1913 and 1939 and Brian Austin in 1991.
The Central Northamptonshire Association rand 5040 changes in honour of Queen Mary’s birthday a Peal fo Grandsire Triples in 3 hours 18 minutes on May 26th 1913.The Ancient Society of College Youths on Friday June 15th 1739 rand 5040 Bob Major in 3 hours 12 minutes. The Peterborough Diocesan Guild, Northampton Branch on Saturday July 22nd 1939 5040 Bob Major in 2 hours 58 minutes.The Peterborough Diicesan Guild on Tuesday 31 January 1991 rang 5152 Cambridge Surprise Major in 2 hours 53 minutes as a retirement compliment to Venerable Bazil Marsh BA MLitt, rector of St Peter 1964-1991.
Grose & Norman and Co. Engineers, Reliance Works in Weston Street (now St. Peter’s Way) re-hung St. Peter’s church bells in May 1893.
William George Norman, the partner in ”Grose & Norman’ was born in 1862. He died aged 61 years on Monday 17th September 1923. The firm ‘Grose Norman’ and the ‘Reliance Works Weston Street’ are not mentioned in the local papers until 1891 which is probably when this photo was taken.
Darren D Brown and Tammy Baker were married at St Peters, 31st May 1997. It was one of the last weddings in the church and was officiated by Rev Jim Wolstenholme.
1 being the the lightest and highest note. “The Treble” 8 being the heaviest and lowest note. “The Tenor”
Tower Details: Number of bells 8
Bell Weights and Casting Information
Bell
Weight (cwt-qr-lb)
Note
Date Cast
Cast By
1
4-3-14
F
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
2
4-2-23
E
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
3
4-3-25
D
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
4
6-1-14
C
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
5
7-0-0
Bb
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
6
7-3-12
A
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
7
9-2-14
G
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
8
12-2-0
F
1734
Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester
Inscriptions on the bells
1. Peace and good neighbourhood 1734 2. Prosperity to this parish 3. Fear God honour the King 4. No inscription 5. Ab Rudhall of Gloucester cast us all 1734 6. Prosperity to the Church of England 1734 7. Sir Arthur Haslerigg Baronet and Nicholas Battim Ald Churchwardens 1734 8. The gift of Sir Arthur Haslerigg Baronet 1734
Prior to 1734 four bells hung in the tower. In 1734 Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester cast and hung eight new bells on a substantial wooden frame. Gillett & Johnston of Croydon rehung the bells on the same frame but with new fittings in 1928 and in 2003 John Taylor Bellfounders replaced the bearings, re-bushed the clappers, re-newed pulleys and tightened up the frame bolts.
The first peal on the bells, which was also the first peal in Northampton, was rung by a band of London ringers, members of the Ancient Society of College Youths, on 15th June 1739, the method rung being Plain Bob Major. Details of the peal, which is number 44 in the Society’s peal book, are recorded in the tower and are given below.
St Peter’s, Northampton. Friday June 15th 1739. 5040 Bob Major, in 3 Hours and 12 minutes.
Treble – William Pickard 2 – Samuel Lee 3 – James Windus 4 – Joseph Griffiths 5 – James Barton 6 – William Watts 7 – Benjamin Annable (C) Tenor – Job Tingay
Benjamin Annable was one of the leading ringers of his day but little is known of the other ringers in the peal. Up until the end of 2011, 66 peals had been rung on the bells.
