Bell Tower

The Tower holds the bells and the clock. On the roof is the flagpole, which flies a suitable flag at certain times of the year. Getting to the roof is a strenuous task. In particular the trap door is lead-covered.

All Saints has an active team of ringers and a peal of six bells in a steel frame which was installed in 1935. At that time a new Treble was added. Prior to that there were only five bells hung on an oak frame. The Treble and the Tenor (1887, Queen Victoria's Jubilee) both carry the names of the current rectors and churchwardens. The oldest bell dates from 1614. Interestingly the 4th and 5th were made locally in Drayton Parslow.

The bellringers (campanologists!) practice most weeks and are regularly called upon for weddings and special services throughout the year.

The church clock was installed as a finishing touch to the Victorian Restoration. It was built in 1869 by the reputable clockmakers, John Moore and Sons of Clerkenwell, London. It still keeps good time, although there are references in the parish magazines just before 1900 which indicate that it had teething troubles! It had to be wound once a week before automatic electric winding was installed in 2006. The strike mechanism used to take 93 turns each week with the actual clock mechanism taking rather less.

Note the mimic clock which rotates anti-clockwise, used to set the correct time on the hands outside. The clock faces were regilded in 1997.