Benson

St. Helen Benson

Tower Captain: John Tchighianoff

Contact Details

Mr John Ychighianoff
45 St. Helens Avenue.
Benson, Wallingford.
Oxon
OX10 6RU

Tel: 01491 838777
E-mail:  John Tchighianoff 

Practice: Wednesday 7.30 - 9.00pm
Sunday ringing: 9.20 - 9.55am

Facilities: Toilets in church

The Clock

Benson church clock has two elevens as the nine was painted upside down in error and appears as XI.

During the second world war Lord Haw Haw, the traitorous broadcaster from Nazi Germany, promised to bomb an airfield near the village where the church has two XIs on the clock face

The Bells

The present tower was completed in 1781 and in the same year eight bells were cast by Thomas Janaway of Chelsea and hung anti-clockwise in an oak frame. The 2nd and 3rd were subsequently recast in 1852 and 1922 respectively. In 2009 the bells were rehung clockwise in a cast iron frame by Whites of Appleton.

The Re-dedication of the bells by the Bishop of Dorchester on 22nd November 2009.

The inscriptions on the bells

Tenor The Revd William Judgson A.M: Vicar The Revd John Lewis A.M: Curate Thos Coles: Church Warden Henry Newbery Unto the living I do call And to the grave I summons all Thomas Janaway made us all 1781

7th Thos Janaway of Chelsea fecit 1781 John Grantham Gent

6th Thos Janaway of Chelsea fecit 1781 The Ringers Art our gratefull notes prolong Apollo listens and approves the song On the headstock: This bell was rehung in 2009 sponsored by The Bensington Society

5th Thomas Janaway of Chelsea fecit 1781 On the headstock: This bell was rehung in 2009 sponsored by John Aldridge and family who have resided in Benson since 1861

4th Thomas Janaway of Chelsea fecit 1781 When from the earth our notes rebound The hills and valleys echo round On the headstock: This bell was rehung in 2009 sponsored by Benson Parish Council on behalf of the people of Benson

3rd Mears & Stainbank London Cast 1781 Recast 1922 J.E Field: Vicar

2nd C & G Mears Founders London 1852

Treble Musica est Mentis Medicina Thomas Janaway fecit 1781 On the headstock: This bell was rehung in 2009 in memory of Margaret Ann Keable