Bells
Tenor: Circa 1530 -
Dedicated to St Siricus (Pope in 384) The work of Thomas Geffries, Bell Founder Bristol. He died in 1546. The bell bears the name of Richard Herbert, who presumably was the donor. The initials D.D. with a bell between them appear to stand for D. Davies, who, with T. Davies had a local bell foundry for a short period – 1714 to 1722. Second: Circa 1430 Treble: 1716 - The second oldest ringing bell in Wales
The two older Bells were ‘cracked’ sometime in 1880 and could no longer be used. Local tradition has it that they were being rung to celebrate the birth of a son to Plas Cilybebyll. The ringers were supplied with liquid refreshment to mark the occasion and were a bit carried away. No one in living memory had heard the bells ring before they were restored. The two old bells were taken down in 1961 because the wooden frame was unsafe. They were kept on the floor of the Tower until 1984. The treble bell was re-hung in 1961 and was used as a single calling bell.
In 1983, it was decided to restore the bells and a Bell Restoration Fund was launched. Incredibly, in a very short time, over £60,000 was raised within the Parish, and from old Parishioners. The enthusiasm was remarkable – local schools and Rhos Cwmtawe male Choir, were amongst those that helped.
In 1984, the bells were taken to Taylor & Son, Bellfounders of Loughborough for repair – one of only two firms in the country able to carry out this work.
Considerable work had to be carried out in the Tower before the bells were re-hung. Two new platforms were installed and new seating had to be prepared for the bearing girders.
Messrs Taylors re-hung the bells in June 1984 and they were re-dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Llandaff – The Right Reverend John Poole-Hughes on 21st June 1984. The Church was crowded and the Service was relayed to those outside – over a hundred chairs plus those sitting on the walls and gravestones.
The bells are now used every Sunday by our team of Bell-ringers. They practice each Tuesday evening 7.30-9pm and extend a warm welcome to new bell ringers who would like to learn. Please email or contact us for more details.
We are, naturally, very proud of our bells – and their history. How they escaped being destroyed during the Reformation and, of course, during the time of Cromwell, we will never know. Perhaps they were hidden or, perhaps, Cilybebyll was a bit off the beaten track.
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