Bells of All Saints' Chilton

Bells of All Saints' Chilton, Oxon
(formerly Berks until 1974)

The 6 bells were not rung between 1959, when the tower was declared unsafe and December 2000 when they were rehung. Click here for the history of the bells before 2000 including peals rung.
Click here for info about the bells since 2000. and peals and quarter peals since then

In 1998 a Millenium project was organized to raise money to repair the tower and rehang the bells.

All Saints' tower
All Saints’ tower from the south west in May 2001.

Regular Ringing Times

The Tower Captain is Alec Samler tel: (01235) 834 589

Ringing for service is on Sunday 8.45 to 9.20am.

Practice night is Thursdays joint with Harwell
Beginners and ringers of any standard are welcome, contact Alec or just come to a practice.

Availability for visitors

At the Rector’s discretion one special ringing event per month is allowed in addition to service ringing and regular practices. The special events may include one full peal attempt per year.
Contact the Tower Correspondent, Kate Crennell, for further information.

Special events will be publicized in the “Ridgeway Broadsheet” and the “Chilton Chronicle”.
Click here for special events diary.

Travelling Directions

Chilton is the most southerly parish in Oxfordshire. The church is at OS Grid Ref: SU 489 859.

Coming from the south along the A34, take the exit at the 'Chilton Garden Centre', turn right towards Hagbourne over the bridge over the A34, DO NOT TURN RIGHT AT THE ROUNDABOUT, go straight across it and turn right into Chilton at Townend, just opposite the UKAEA headquarters building. The road bears right towards the church which is seen on your right.

Coming from the north leave the A34 at the Milton interchange and follow the A4185 south over Rowstock roundabout, up the hill past the AEA main gate. The road bears left past the Garden Centre and over the A34.

From the east come over Hagbourne Hill and take the first turn into Chilton at Townend by the LaFarge Cement building.

Car Parking. Visitors coming by car are asked to park in the Village Hall Car Park; drive about 100 yards along the lane in front of the All Saints' Lych Gate to the Car Park just behind the church on the western side. There are a few buses during the day to Chilton but none in the evenings or on Sundays. Enter the churchyard by the back gate, near the Car Park

The entrance to the ringing chamber is through the door to the church extension kitchen on the southern side of the tower, locked except for regular service and ringing times. Continue through another door into the vestry and up a short modern metal spiral staircase with 12 steps from the vestry.

The church toilet is on the ground floor adjacent to the entrance door to the extension. It also is normally locked.

Access to the belfry is not easy: there is a 'loft ladder' to the 4ft high 'clock room' then another short ladder leads into the belfry where the bell frame takes up most of the space in the tower; visitors must be agile and need to climb round under one of the bells which is just above the entrance trap door and then over the frame; there are only a few inches between the frame and the tower walls.

Children's toys:
are kept in the lower room of the church extension. If the weather is fine, small children can use the village playground adjacent to the Car Park

Refreshments:
The nearest pub is the 'Rose and Crown' about a 5 minutes walk from the Church; from the Lych Gate turn right and go down Church Hill, turn right at the village green and along Main Street. They also offer light meals and bar snacks at midday and in the evenings.
The 'Chilton Garden Centre' is a similar distance away on the western side of the slip road from the south of the A34. They have a small cafe serving tea, coffee and light meals, including 'Full English breakfast' at any time of day and home made cakes at tea time. They are normally open from about 10am to 5pm.

If you have further information about bells and bell ringing in Chilton please let us know

I am compiling a history, of past restorations and achievements of Chilton ringers, so please let me have any details you may know.

Page last updated 7 Jun 2009

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