The Church Bell

The Spire of St. Andrew’s is a striking landmark in Brockley.
Visible from far and wide, it is sometimes lit for special occasions and celebrations.

Inside the Spire is a bell which was cast at the Gilbert and Johnson foundry in Croydon in 1884. Gilbert and Johnson cast many famous bells including the fifty-three Carillon bells which are in the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament Building in Ottawa.

Our bell has a diameter of thirty seven and a half inches and holds the serial number 788. Over the past more than 140 years, the bell has developed a crack from the repeated striking of the clapper against the bell and sadly can no longer be rung or removed for repair.

New bell system:
The now retired bell has recently been supplemented by a new bell system which will only be rung as follows (unless otherwise directed for national celebrations, events or memorials):

Mon-Fri: up to five minutes before and/or after services (funerals/weddings)
Sunday: up to five minutes before worship (usually 11am)

The bell will not ring each hour, and will not be rung before 9am or after 7pm.
Unless it is a national occasion, each ring will last for less than five minutes.

For your information and clarity, the times of funeral and wedding service are displayed on the information screen in the main entrance of the church and Sunday services are listed on the homepage of our website.