Yorkshire Surprise Major at Cranleigh, Surrey

A recording of an excerpt of a quarter peal of Yorkshire Surprise Major at Cranleigh on Tuesday, 18th June 2024. This video also features the bells being raised and lowered and a touch of Stedman Triples to finish off with various belfry and ringing room shots in the quarter peal and the lower. Thank you to Luca Greenslade for allowing me to use his footage of the ringing room and the Stedman Triples and also for the photographs of the church.

St Nicolas Church in Cranleigh has a fine-sounding 1954 Gillett and Johnston peal of eight bells. These were the last complete ring that Gillett and Johnston produced. The bells are mellow and boomy, resonating beautifully while ringing. However, they could be a bit louder in the ringing room as they sound somewhat mono inside. Despite this, they are an underrated set of eight bells, although they can be a bit challenging to ring, especially round the back end. Nonetheless, ringing here is highly recommended.

St Nicolas Church in Cranleigh is believed to have been founded in 1170, the same year Thomas Becket was killed, which led to a surge in church building. Originally, Cranleigh was a small hamlet, and the first church was a simple rectangle, later expanded with side aisles and chapels due to population growth. The 13th century saw the widening of the aisles and the raising of the nave arches, with decorative sculptures added to the arches.

Around 1340, a new chancel and wooden screens were built. Plans for a central tower were abandoned in favor of the current west-end tower, which has massive proportions typical of Norman protective towers, but it was likely built in the 14th century. The tower houses a peal of eight bells, one dating from 1552, with the last two added in 1908. These older bells were replaced in 1954 by a current ring of eight bells cast by Gillett and Johnston. The current bells were overhauled in 1999 by Eayre and Smith.

Significant changes occurred in the 19th century, including removing the chancel screen, covering wall paintings, replacing stained glass windows, and substituting box pews with the current pews. An organ and choir stalls were added, and the chapels were expanded to form transepts. A clergy vestry and a choir vestry were also added. The churchyard was extended, and the Lych Gate was built during this time. Today, the church remains a central part of the village with a rich history of modifications and expansions.

Timestamps:

0:16 - Ringing up the back six in the belfry
2:02 - Excerpt of the quarter peal of Yorkshire Surprise Major in the belfry
5:13 - Excerpt of the quarter peal of Yorkshire Surprise Major from the ringing room
8:28 - Ringing down all eight in peal from the ringing room
9:21 - Ringing down all eight in peal from the belfry

Tenor 16–2–22 in F

https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/13316...

https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.ph...