Christ Church, Broad St, BS1 2BB
Bell Weight Note Diam Date Founder Source
1/10 5-3-x F#+19 29.38 1789 William Bilbie DLC 8/1990
2/10 5-2-x E+5 29 1789 William Bilbie DLC 8/1990
3/10 5-2-x D+45 29.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
4/10 5-2-x C#+21 30 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
5/10 6-0-x B+39 32 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
6/10 7-0-x A+35 34.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
7/10 8-3-x G+32 37.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
8/10 9-3-x F#+28 39.13 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
9/10 12-3-x E+52 42.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
10/10 20-0-x D+54 48.75 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
1Q 2-1-4 A+0 22 1912 Mears & Stainbank DLC 8/1990 [CJP]
2Q 3-0-11 F+1 24.63 1912 Mears & Stainbank DLC 8/1990 [CJP]
Hour 7-0-x D 32.5 1713 Evan I Evans DLC 8/1990
Service 1-1-x D+3 16.5 1713 Evan I Evans DLC 8/1990
Sacring 0-3-x D+28 14.88 1698 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
Previously
1/10 5-1-25 G 27.5 1727 Abraham II Rudhall Recast 1789 CJP
2/10 5-2-4 F 28.75 1727 Abraham II Rudhall Recast 1789 CJP
SR: 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th 1030-1100
PN: 2nd Mon 1930-2100
Steps: 66
1/10 5-3-x F#+19 29.38 1789 William Bilbie DLC 8/1990
2/10 5-2-x E+5 29 1789 William Bilbie DLC 8/1990
3/10 5-2-x D+45 29.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
4/10 5-2-x C#+21 30 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
5/10 6-0-x B+39 32 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
6/10 7-0-x A+35 34.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
7/10 8-3-x G+32 37.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
8/10 9-3-x F#+28 39.13 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
9/10 12-3-x E+52 42.5 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
10/10 20-0-x D+54 48.75 1716 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
1Q 2-1-4 A+0 22 1912 Mears & Stainbank DLC 8/1990 [CJP]
2Q 3-0-11 F+1 24.63 1912 Mears & Stainbank DLC 8/1990 [CJP]
Hour 7-0-x D 32.5 1713 Evan I Evans DLC 8/1990
Service 1-1-x D+3 16.5 1713 Evan I Evans DLC 8/1990
Sacring 0-3-x D+28 14.88 1698 Abraham I Rudhall DLC 8/1990
Previously
1/10 5-1-25 G 27.5 1727 Abraham II Rudhall Recast 1789 CJP
2/10 5-2-4 F 28.75 1727 Abraham II Rudhall Recast 1789 CJP
SR: 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th 1030-1100
PN: 2nd Mon 1930-2100
Steps: 66
Extract from The Ringing World 13 Mar 1987 p.239 - Bristol Bells: the higher numbers by Christopher J Pickford [full article available here]
To Christ Church belongs the distinction of having had Bristol’s first ring of 10 bells. The present ring consists of eight bells by Abraham Rudhall I, dated 1716 and two trebles cast by William Bilbie in 1789. Abel Rudhall’s 1751 catalogue, however, lists “City of Bristol, Christ Church, 10", implying that there were 10 bells, all cast by members of the Rudhall family, at Christ Church before 1751. Investigation in the parish records showed not only that the bells were first augmented to 10 in 1727/8, but also that there were eight bells in the tower before 1716. I did not search the vestry minutes for information on the earlier augmentation to eight, but I have no doubt that the date could be discovered. It would certainly be interesting to know if Christ Church had eight bells before 1698 when the bells at St. Mary Redcliffe were augmented.
The records show that on 23rd January 1716/17 the vestry empowered the churchwardens to “treat and agree with Mr. Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester Bellfounder for the new casting the Eight Bells now in the Tower of Christ Church’’. The bells are dated 1716 and the accounts for 1716-17 show that "Mr. Abra Riddall” was paid £87.1s., doe "new casting the Bells &c.’’, the hanging being undertaken by a Mr. Trevett, carpenter. The exact weights of the bells are not recorded, but the Rudhall catalogue of c.1830 gives the weight of the tenor as 20 cwt.
It was on 6th November 1727 that the vestry authorised the churchwarden "to agree with Mr. Rudhall of Gloucester to cast and set up in the Tower of Christ Church two Treble Bells". The bells cost £89.3s., and Rudhall’s bill preserved in the parish records is dated 22nd January 1727/8. The weights of the bells are given as 5-1-25 and 5-2-4 and the cost of “making of two new frames and hanging the two New Bells by Henry Jennings [of Gloucester] and Wm Tanner" amounted to £7.10s. There can be little doubt that these bells were added to the ring, although it should be noted that later in 1728 the church clock was restored and new clock jacks striking the quarters on bells independent of the ring were added. (J. K. Bedchambers Somerset Clockmakers (1968) pp. 16-23 gives a detailed account of the history of the clock, with illustration (plate l) of clock jack and bell.)
It is interesting to note that the augmentation at Christ Church took place in the same year as Abraham Rudhall II, supplied a new ring of eight for the neighbouring parish of All Saints. The churchwardens’ accounts for All Saints include an entry dated 4th November 1727 which reads "Paid with the Wardens of X Church when [we] enquired ye cost of yr [i.e. their] Bells". The contract for recasting the six old bells at All Saints (the total weight of which was 55-1-12) was signed on 6th November 1727 and the new ring of eight (tenor 16-0-22, total weight 71-1-2) was first rung on 28th March 1728.
But to return to Christ Church. The original church became very dilapidated and a new church was built between 1786 and 1790. At about the same time, in 1788, the parish was united with that of St. Ewen whose church (with two Rudhall bells cast in 1698/9) was subsequently demolished. The rebuilding of Christ Church afforded an opportunity for improvements to the bells. The old clock and chimes were taken down and transferred to All Saints church in June 1786 and no doubt the 10 bells were dismantled at much the same time. The two trebles were recast by William Bilbie in 1789 and it is said that Bilbie also retuned the Rudhall octave in order to ensure a satisfactory splice. (The tuning is mentioned in X.Y.Z. op. cit. p.53. See also The Ringing World 6th February 1970.) In all probability further details of Bilbie’s work in 1789/90 could be gleaned from the parish records.
To Christ Church belongs the distinction of having had Bristol’s first ring of 10 bells. The present ring consists of eight bells by Abraham Rudhall I, dated 1716 and two trebles cast by William Bilbie in 1789. Abel Rudhall’s 1751 catalogue, however, lists “City of Bristol, Christ Church, 10", implying that there were 10 bells, all cast by members of the Rudhall family, at Christ Church before 1751. Investigation in the parish records showed not only that the bells were first augmented to 10 in 1727/8, but also that there were eight bells in the tower before 1716. I did not search the vestry minutes for information on the earlier augmentation to eight, but I have no doubt that the date could be discovered. It would certainly be interesting to know if Christ Church had eight bells before 1698 when the bells at St. Mary Redcliffe were augmented.
The records show that on 23rd January 1716/17 the vestry empowered the churchwardens to “treat and agree with Mr. Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester Bellfounder for the new casting the Eight Bells now in the Tower of Christ Church’’. The bells are dated 1716 and the accounts for 1716-17 show that "Mr. Abra Riddall” was paid £87.1s., doe "new casting the Bells &c.’’, the hanging being undertaken by a Mr. Trevett, carpenter. The exact weights of the bells are not recorded, but the Rudhall catalogue of c.1830 gives the weight of the tenor as 20 cwt.
It was on 6th November 1727 that the vestry authorised the churchwarden "to agree with Mr. Rudhall of Gloucester to cast and set up in the Tower of Christ Church two Treble Bells". The bells cost £89.3s., and Rudhall’s bill preserved in the parish records is dated 22nd January 1727/8. The weights of the bells are given as 5-1-25 and 5-2-4 and the cost of “making of two new frames and hanging the two New Bells by Henry Jennings [of Gloucester] and Wm Tanner" amounted to £7.10s. There can be little doubt that these bells were added to the ring, although it should be noted that later in 1728 the church clock was restored and new clock jacks striking the quarters on bells independent of the ring were added. (J. K. Bedchambers Somerset Clockmakers (1968) pp. 16-23 gives a detailed account of the history of the clock, with illustration (plate l) of clock jack and bell.)
It is interesting to note that the augmentation at Christ Church took place in the same year as Abraham Rudhall II, supplied a new ring of eight for the neighbouring parish of All Saints. The churchwardens’ accounts for All Saints include an entry dated 4th November 1727 which reads "Paid with the Wardens of X Church when [we] enquired ye cost of yr [i.e. their] Bells". The contract for recasting the six old bells at All Saints (the total weight of which was 55-1-12) was signed on 6th November 1727 and the new ring of eight (tenor 16-0-22, total weight 71-1-2) was first rung on 28th March 1728.
But to return to Christ Church. The original church became very dilapidated and a new church was built between 1786 and 1790. At about the same time, in 1788, the parish was united with that of St. Ewen whose church (with two Rudhall bells cast in 1698/9) was subsequently demolished. The rebuilding of Christ Church afforded an opportunity for improvements to the bells. The old clock and chimes were taken down and transferred to All Saints church in June 1786 and no doubt the 10 bells were dismantled at much the same time. The two trebles were recast by William Bilbie in 1789 and it is said that Bilbie also retuned the Rudhall octave in order to ensure a satisfactory splice. (The tuning is mentioned in X.Y.Z. op. cit. p.53. See also The Ringing World 6th February 1970.) In all probability further details of Bilbie’s work in 1789/90 could be gleaned from the parish records.
BELLS & BELLFOUNDING by X-Y-Z 1879 p.53
The merriest peal of bells in Bristol is generally thought to be at CHRIST CHURCH in the city. Previous to the church being rebuilt there was a ring of eight only [sic] with a tenor in E natural of the present concert pitch (but then called F) cast by Abraham Rudhall in 1716. In 1789 Wm Bilbie added two new trebles [sic] and tuned the whole lowering the key to Eb. The bells were not individually improved by the process but as they are all in tune and peal are well hung in a roomy and strong tower are kept in good condition and are used by a good company of ringers who on account of the lightness of the bells can ring them in very quick time the effect of the whole is so pleasing and inspiriting that they are generally considered to be the best ring of ten in Bristol.
The merriest peal of bells in Bristol is generally thought to be at CHRIST CHURCH in the city. Previous to the church being rebuilt there was a ring of eight only [sic] with a tenor in E natural of the present concert pitch (but then called F) cast by Abraham Rudhall in 1716. In 1789 Wm Bilbie added two new trebles [sic] and tuned the whole lowering the key to Eb. The bells were not individually improved by the process but as they are all in tune and peal are well hung in a roomy and strong tower are kept in good condition and are used by a good company of ringers who on account of the lightness of the bells can ring them in very quick time the effect of the whole is so pleasing and inspiriting that they are generally considered to be the best ring of ten in Bristol.
The Ringing World 06 Feb 1970 p.86 - AN 18th CENTURY SOUND by Philip Gray
FIRST-TIME VISITORS to Christ Church, Bristol, are sometimes heard to compare the sound of the bells unfavourably with utensils not usually found in a tower. Yet Bristol ringers down the ages have been extremely fond of their sound. I have known quite a few of the first-time detractors join the ranks of the admirers later. An ear accustomed to the richer fullness of modern tuning needs a little while to adjust, just as one does on hearing familiar Bach played on a harpsichord instead of a Bechstein grand. The sounds are not to be compared but each enjoyed in its own right.
It must be admitted that Christ Church bells are not the easiest to ring well. They are rather odd-struck and must be rung briskly with absolute precision. They are not the bells to flatter indifferent striking, but how well they satisfy when the right rhythm is obtained and the striking is clean!
Christ Church bells are the authentic 18th century sound. It must be rare to find a whole ten in which not a single bell has been recast or retuned since 1789. It may be unique. The back eight were cast by Abraham Rudhall, of Gloucester, as the fourth proudly proclaims: “Abr. Rudhall of Gloucester cast us all 1716.” All are dated and most bear the well-known founder’s mark flanked by the initials “A. R.” The lettering on the crowns is a model of even, clear and artistic casting; so too is the moulding which embellishes the crown staples.
Rudhall’s eight [sic] were hung in an older church and tower which were completely replaced by a lovely Wren-style church in the 1780s. It is in a style developed by two or three generations of architects since Wren, and if less grandiose than the great London churches has an intimacy and wholeness which are quite delightful. The Harris organ is another 18th century masterpiece which is justly famous and has only this year been restored to full working order.
Christ Church stands on a crossroads which was the centre of the medieval city of Bristol, and in the 18th century two other churches, St. Werburgh’s and All Saints’, stood at the same crossing. St. Werburgh’s was removed stone by stone to the suburbs in the 1880s, but All Saints’ is still there. All three churches had bells: St. Werburgh’s a six and All Saints’ an eight, also by Rudhall. The rebuilders of Christ Church were not going to have their close neighbours outdo their bells so they decided to add [sic] two more. William Bilbie, of Chewstoke, near Bristol, was commissioned to cast two trebles and rehang the ten in the new tower. Local legend has it that Bilbie was a perfectionist, and no one who has been privileged to see one of his exquisite clocks can doubt that. His two bells, cast in 1789, are longer-waisted than Rudhall’s, and having cast them and tuned them he must have decided that they did not match the other eight to his complete satisfaction. So he proceeded to retune each of Rudhall’s bells with a hammer and chisel until he had all ten perfectly tonally balanced. The neat radial chisel marks inside the sound bow of each bell are quite a work of art in themselves. Standing outside the tower it is impossible to detect that the trebles have been added to an eight, and there are not so many eights augmented to ten in this age or any other of which that is true.
Not only did Bilbie adapt Rudhall’s bells to his needs; he seems to have done the same with the frame. I do not know how else to account for the deep gouging-out of the upper members to allow the bells to swing through. It seems improbable that Rudhall would have done this for a custom built frame for his eight [sic], nor that Bilbie would have done this if he had supplied a completely new frame for the ten. However it came about, the frame today is as sound, square and steady as it ever was.
Christ Church bells have always been popular with Bristol ringers, and in a city with 25 rings they have plenty of choice. Many peals have been rung on them but perhaps the most notable was the 10,133 Grandsire Caters on March 14, 1837, in 5 hours and 44 minutes, conducted by William Smith. It is known that this was a Bristol band but otherwise very little about any of the ringers. Extant records of 19th century ringing in Bristol are regrettably meagre.
For the past few years Christ Church has again become the unofficial headquarters of Bristol ringing. The City Branch of the Gloucester and Bristol Association look after the Sunday ringing there. On the second and fourth Mondays of each month the branch practises its Caters and Surprise Royal and welcomes regular visitors from North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and South Wales. Fortunately the attendances are now so good that one is not missed for ten minutes if you slip down the stairs into Broad Street and listen to a touch of Caters, London or Bristol Royal from there. This is a well-worth-while experience.
FIRST-TIME VISITORS to Christ Church, Bristol, are sometimes heard to compare the sound of the bells unfavourably with utensils not usually found in a tower. Yet Bristol ringers down the ages have been extremely fond of their sound. I have known quite a few of the first-time detractors join the ranks of the admirers later. An ear accustomed to the richer fullness of modern tuning needs a little while to adjust, just as one does on hearing familiar Bach played on a harpsichord instead of a Bechstein grand. The sounds are not to be compared but each enjoyed in its own right.
It must be admitted that Christ Church bells are not the easiest to ring well. They are rather odd-struck and must be rung briskly with absolute precision. They are not the bells to flatter indifferent striking, but how well they satisfy when the right rhythm is obtained and the striking is clean!
Christ Church bells are the authentic 18th century sound. It must be rare to find a whole ten in which not a single bell has been recast or retuned since 1789. It may be unique. The back eight were cast by Abraham Rudhall, of Gloucester, as the fourth proudly proclaims: “Abr. Rudhall of Gloucester cast us all 1716.” All are dated and most bear the well-known founder’s mark flanked by the initials “A. R.” The lettering on the crowns is a model of even, clear and artistic casting; so too is the moulding which embellishes the crown staples.
Rudhall’s eight [sic] were hung in an older church and tower which were completely replaced by a lovely Wren-style church in the 1780s. It is in a style developed by two or three generations of architects since Wren, and if less grandiose than the great London churches has an intimacy and wholeness which are quite delightful. The Harris organ is another 18th century masterpiece which is justly famous and has only this year been restored to full working order.
Christ Church stands on a crossroads which was the centre of the medieval city of Bristol, and in the 18th century two other churches, St. Werburgh’s and All Saints’, stood at the same crossing. St. Werburgh’s was removed stone by stone to the suburbs in the 1880s, but All Saints’ is still there. All three churches had bells: St. Werburgh’s a six and All Saints’ an eight, also by Rudhall. The rebuilders of Christ Church were not going to have their close neighbours outdo their bells so they decided to add [sic] two more. William Bilbie, of Chewstoke, near Bristol, was commissioned to cast two trebles and rehang the ten in the new tower. Local legend has it that Bilbie was a perfectionist, and no one who has been privileged to see one of his exquisite clocks can doubt that. His two bells, cast in 1789, are longer-waisted than Rudhall’s, and having cast them and tuned them he must have decided that they did not match the other eight to his complete satisfaction. So he proceeded to retune each of Rudhall’s bells with a hammer and chisel until he had all ten perfectly tonally balanced. The neat radial chisel marks inside the sound bow of each bell are quite a work of art in themselves. Standing outside the tower it is impossible to detect that the trebles have been added to an eight, and there are not so many eights augmented to ten in this age or any other of which that is true.
Not only did Bilbie adapt Rudhall’s bells to his needs; he seems to have done the same with the frame. I do not know how else to account for the deep gouging-out of the upper members to allow the bells to swing through. It seems improbable that Rudhall would have done this for a custom built frame for his eight [sic], nor that Bilbie would have done this if he had supplied a completely new frame for the ten. However it came about, the frame today is as sound, square and steady as it ever was.
Christ Church bells have always been popular with Bristol ringers, and in a city with 25 rings they have plenty of choice. Many peals have been rung on them but perhaps the most notable was the 10,133 Grandsire Caters on March 14, 1837, in 5 hours and 44 minutes, conducted by William Smith. It is known that this was a Bristol band but otherwise very little about any of the ringers. Extant records of 19th century ringing in Bristol are regrettably meagre.
For the past few years Christ Church has again become the unofficial headquarters of Bristol ringing. The City Branch of the Gloucester and Bristol Association look after the Sunday ringing there. On the second and fourth Mondays of each month the branch practises its Caters and Surprise Royal and welcomes regular visitors from North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and South Wales. Fortunately the attendances are now so good that one is not missed for ten minutes if you slip down the stairs into Broad Street and listen to a touch of Caters, London or Bristol Royal from there. This is a well-worth-while experience.
Frequencies of the bells measured in Hertz with the relative intervals from the nominal in cents
Hum Prime Tierce Quint Nominal Superquint Octave Nominal Note
Bell Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents
10 179 -2111 310 -1160 375.5 -829 515 -282 606 0 858.5 603 1201.5 1185 D+54
9 197.5 -2139 362 -1090 420.5 -831 586 -256 679.5 198 992 655 1352.5 1192 E+52
8 222 -2112 396 -1110 462.5 -842 608 -368 752 374 1105.5 667 1521 1219 F#+28
7 237 -2103 427.5 -1082 504 -797 686 -263 798.5 478 1164.5 653 1582.5 1184 G+32
6 268.5 -2090 451.5 -1190 556.5 -828 779 -246 898 681 1308.5 652 1775 1180 A+35
5 286 -2184 509 -1186 616.5 -855 876.5 -245 1010 884 1474.5 655 2009.5 1191 B+39
4 334.5 -2096 563 -1195 700.5 -816 938 -311 1122.5 1067 1636.5 653 2214.5 1176 C#+21
3 344 -2171 578.5 -1271 730.5 -867 985 -350 1205.5 1191 1761.5 657 2379.5 1177 D+45
2 386 -2132 590.5 -1396 804.5 -861 1129 -274 1322.5 1351 1917 643 2596 1168 E+5
1 446.5 -2084 659.5 -1409 913.5 -845 1229.5 -330 1488 1555 2170.5 654 2917.5 1166 F#+19
Bell Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents Freq. Cents
10 179 -2111 310 -1160 375.5 -829 515 -282 606 0 858.5 603 1201.5 1185 D+54
9 197.5 -2139 362 -1090 420.5 -831 586 -256 679.5 198 992 655 1352.5 1192 E+52
8 222 -2112 396 -1110 462.5 -842 608 -368 752 374 1105.5 667 1521 1219 F#+28
7 237 -2103 427.5 -1082 504 -797 686 -263 798.5 478 1164.5 653 1582.5 1184 G+32
6 268.5 -2090 451.5 -1190 556.5 -828 779 -246 898 681 1308.5 652 1775 1180 A+35
5 286 -2184 509 -1186 616.5 -855 876.5 -245 1010 884 1474.5 655 2009.5 1191 B+39
4 334.5 -2096 563 -1195 700.5 -816 938 -311 1122.5 1067 1636.5 653 2214.5 1176 C#+21
3 344 -2171 578.5 -1271 730.5 -867 985 -350 1205.5 1191 1761.5 657 2379.5 1177 D+45
2 386 -2132 590.5 -1396 804.5 -861 1129 -274 1322.5 1351 1917 643 2596 1168 E+5
1 446.5 -2084 659.5 -1409 913.5 -845 1229.5 -330 1488 1555 2170.5 654 2917.5 1166 F#+19
Matthews, J - 1825 - Bristol Guide The City Of Bristol, Hotwells & Clifton.
...the tower only is apparent, all of freestone, (under which is the entrance to the church) and ornamented on the stage above the church, with sixteen Ionic pilasters that support four pediments ; the stage above this (that contains a peal of ten fine bells) has on each side four Corinthian pillars, and at each corner of the tower is a large handsome vase. On the tower is an octangular, perpendicular base of about fifteen feet high, which supports an octangular obelisk of 70 feet, on which is elevated a gilded dragon ; the whole is 160 feet high, and is one of the handsomest steeples in Bristol.
...the tower only is apparent, all of freestone, (under which is the entrance to the church) and ornamented on the stage above the church, with sixteen Ionic pilasters that support four pediments ; the stage above this (that contains a peal of ten fine bells) has on each side four Corinthian pillars, and at each corner of the tower is a large handsome vase. On the tower is an octangular, perpendicular base of about fifteen feet high, which supports an octangular obelisk of 70 feet, on which is elevated a gilded dragon ; the whole is 160 feet high, and is one of the handsomest steeples in Bristol.