St Thomas' Church
St Thomas' Brampton and St Peter's Holymoorside, Chesterfield
St Thomas' Clock and Bells
Our vision statement: Sharing the love of Jesus
St Thomas' clock

Home

The Clock
The Bells

Read Pam Brimelow's Potted History of St Thomas'

More information about St Thomas'

More information about St Peter's

Parish History

The Clock

In October 1920 a clock, made by the Midland Clock Works, Derby was installed in St Thomas' Church Tower.

A plaque in the West Porch has on it: The clock in this tower was presented by Thomas Scott to the Glory of God and the use of the parish of St Thomas' Brampton and was erected by Joseph Halslam as a thank offering for the safe return of his two sons from the Great War 1914-1919.

It is a 'Public Clock' and it was required to 'strike the hours and be heard from a quarter of a mile away. The erection of the clock will satisfy a need that had long been felt, for there is no public clock that strikes the hours nearer than the Market Hall, and the whole of Brampton will be deeply grateful to the donors.'

The clock face is on the south side of the tower. However there were plans to have a face on the west side but this was shelved for financial reasons. However the outline of the face can be seen on the west side.

The clock and chiming mechanism is wound once a week. This has been done for the last 38 years (2009) by Mr Colin Scattergood and latterly assisted by his son Robert. Colin is the third generation of his family to wind the clock -his father and grandfather wound it before him.

Listen here to the clock chiming here


The clock tower
clock tower




The clock face
clock face




The clock mechanism -it is wound weekly
clock mechanism




clock mechanism




Colin Scattergood winding the clock
clock mechanism




Robert Scattergood winding the chiming mechanism
clock mechanism





The Bells

In August 1936 8 bells were installed in St Thomas' church tower by Messrs Taylor and Company. They were given in memory of Stephen Melland and Godfrey Melland May. The cost of the bells and installation was £825. A Service of Blessing and Dedication 'For a Peal of Eight Bells' was held on 12 September 1936.

The tower was not considered strong enough for the bells to be rung conventionally, so they are 'chimes' (clavier), with the clappers striking the inside of the bells.

Phil Riley has written a more detailed description of the bells here

Order of Service for the Blessing and Dedication of the bells here

correspondence about the bells including, specifications, costings, post installation inspection and why the tower was not suitable for swung bells here

Listen here to the bells being rung by Nick Riley here
Opening Peel
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Jingle Bells
Little Donkey
The First Nowell


No 8 Bell -see Phil Riley's detailed description for the inscription wording
No 8 Bell




No 7 Bell -see Phil Riley's detailed description for the inscription wording
No 7 Bell




Bells hanging in the tower
No 7 Bell




Bells hanging in the tower
No 7 Bell




Bells hanging in the tower
No 7 Bell




From beneth No 8 bell
No 8 Bell




The keyboard
Keyboard


Inscription on the keyboard
Keyboard


Another inscription on the keyboard
Keyboard


Ian Hoare playing the keyboard (2005)
Keyboard


Keyboard


Church Office | Tel: 01246 558461 | stthomasbrampton@tiscali.co.uk