Benefaction board (1989)

on the North wall of the tower

Towcester has an active team of bell ringers. A bequest board under the tower details the history of the present peal of bells, which were installed in 1990. They include eight bells originally cast in 1897 by J. Taylor & Co. for Christ Church, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, and four new bells cast for St Lawrence in 1989.

Prior to that there were six bells hung on an old timber frame. One of these earlier bells, a treble cast by Richard Chandler in 1725, and donated by Mr. William Henchman, was recast in 1935 and finally recast in 1989 as the treble bell of the new peal.

The inscription on the bequest board reads:

1989Eight bells were transferred from Christchurch Todmorden W.Yorks and presented by the Trustees of the Hicks Charity.Four trebles were cast from the metal of the old tenor bell and the ring of twelve bells hung in a new frame at the expense of
The Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers
The Leche Trust
The Cripps Foundation
The St Lawrence Society of Ringers
The Towcester Branch of the Peterborough Diocesan Guild
and many other donors.

The Westminster Clock Chimes were restored in memory of Mr Jack Wilson of Towcester 1913-1991

Rev'd James E. Atwell M.A.Vicar
G. Allan Kilgower B.E.M. Church
Dr D. Michael Brookbanks Warden
Andrew W.R. Wilby Ringing Master

The Ring of Twelve Bells
Cast by John Taylor & Co. Loughborough, Leics.

Inscriptions

Treble "Ring boyes and keep awake for Mr Wm. Henchman's sake"
Cast 1725 Recast 1935 Recast 1989
The Gift of The St Lawrence Soc. of Ringers
"We rang sir and kept awake and into twelve the bells did make".
4cwt. 1qr. 22Lbs. Bb

2nd "In Memory of Vera Doreen Robinson nee Orland 1923-1989"
4cwt. 2qr. 22Lbs. Aa
"The Gift of Her Dear Friend John Watson of Canada, her Daughters Lesley and Elaine and Sisters Kay and Joan"

3rd "Given to the glory of God and Remembering the Oldham Family who served this Church and Town 1873-1964"
4cwt. 2qr. 18Lbs. G

4th "The gift of James, Valerie, Jonathan and Robert Clatworthy"
4cwt. 3qrs. 8Lbs. F

Eight bells were transferred from Todmorden augmented to twelve in 1989

			cwt	qr	lb
5th	"To God the Father"	6		22	Eb
6th	"God the Son"	6	2	8	D
7th	"And God the Spirit"	7	3	12	C
8th	"Three in One"	8	3		Bb
9th	"Be Honour, Praise"	10	3	16	Ab
10th	"And Glory Given	13	2	6	G
11th	"By All in Earth"	17		24	F
12th	"And All in Heaven"	23	1	13	Eb