St Michael and All Angels Church located at grid reference SU024787 is mainly perpendicular style and much restored during the period 1862 -1865. The Belfry contains 6 bells, the earliest dating from the early 16th century, the latest from 1947, two are 17th century (1632, 1605) one is 18th century (1794) and one old bell was recast in 1926.

On the oldest bell is found the most interesting inscription:
0: Thoma, porrige: rete: stantes: opem: nobis
0 Thoinas send help to those who stand in the right.

It also has a figure holding a staff topped by a cross. This could well indicate that the bell is dedicated to St Thomas á Becket. It is most likely that the bell was cast for Bradenstoke Priory; at the time the monasteries were under the threat of dissolution by the officers of Henry VIII.

This is certainly the local tradition and fits with the dedication to Thomas á Becket who stood for the rights of the Church as against the State in his time and was martyred in this cause. If this tradition is authentic, the bell would have been commissioned in the 1530s.

Six old bells are located in the tower and are orchestrated by the local bell-ringers. The image on the left shows the ropes stowed in the first floor layer of the tower.

Walking around the village it is a pleasure to hear the melodies played as the church bells ring. The campanologist, alias, Lyneham Bell Ringers, practise their skills to ensure they are in tip-top order and sound their best at the many ceremonies.

If you are interested in becoming a campanologist at St Michael and All Angels, please contact the church in the first instance or contact their Captain Bellringer Dave Seymour by e-mail david.seymour1@virgin.net.

Practice night is Wednesday evenings from 7:45 to 9:00 pm. Sunday service ringing is from 10:00 to 10:30. There are currently twelve ringers who are of varying ability and ages (from 14 to approximately 59).

Bell ringing celebrates the joy of weddings and victories, intones the sadness of deaths and funerals, and summons people to church. The casual listener immediately recognises that some bells play hymns, songs and melodies. Those bells are called carillons or chimes. They do not swing, and the striking of the clappers is controlled by one person, the carillonneur or chimer.

Why not explore our background behind the reason churches have bell towers, their construction, science and art of striking the clapper on the bell. There is more that goes on behind the scenes to get the rolling melodies of the church bells Click here