Preston's bells.
The church tower, showing the door and windows for the bell
chamber.
Preston church has three bells. The bell chamber is reached
via the steps on the outside of the tower, and then by a spiral staircase. Each
of the bells has its own inscription:
Prosperity to this place. A.R.
[Anna Regina, the Queen] 1713
Cum iuncundissima voce
prosequor [I proceed with a most pleasing voice] Henry Bagley 1635.
Henry Baglee made mee 1653.
Bell-ringing has attracted a long succession of loyal
followers. In the late 19th century, the bell-ringers, along with
the village choir (see Day 97), were entertained to supper every Boxing Day in
the servants' hall of Alscot Park.
Bell-ringing was a gruelling job. There were often three
Sunday services as well as weddings, christenings and funerals. In the 1940s,
Denis Maton, Tony Ashfield and Tom Walton
were the regular ringers. Then Bob Stredder, a skilled bell-ringer who
had recently moved to the village, began to teach more young men to ring the
bells. John Horseman, Derrick Ashfield and George Nason began to 'learn the
ropes'. George remained a regular ringer
for nearly fifty years. The bells still have a regular following of ringers
today.
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