In the Nave is a very ancient turret clock which until a few years ago struck out the time for the people of Tingewick
The Tingewick clock did not have a face and therefore could only be heard. Its replacement in the Tower is also faceless
The ancient clock has aroused much interest, a former Rector, the late Revd. J.E. Simpson was so interested in the clock that it was arranged for an authority on Church Clocks, Dr. C.F.C. Benson of Oxford to visit the village and make an examination of the mechanism. Dr Benson reported as follows:
"The Clock is of an uncommon type, characterised by end-to-end trains of wheels and a centre count wheel. I know of only a few other English examples which were to be seen in the Midlands and the South Eastern counties
It is an ancient type of mechanism first used at the end of the 14th century but now and again used until the end of the 18th century. It derives from early turret clocks prevalent in the low countries, Belgium and parts of Northern France
The frame of the clock has features of the late 17th century and it has an anchor escapement with a pendulum beating a fraction more than one second. This Clock is certainly later than 1675 but may, however be a conversion of an older type"
If we are to accept Dr Benson's report the clock is not older than 1675, yet it is possible that this clock is a conversion of an older clock. Firstly, because apart from the frame the mechanism could be a lot older than 1675.
Secondly, we know that Tingewick Church did have a clock in 1637. In that year the then Bishop of Lincoln had a survey made and it is quoted in A W. Cocks "Church Belts Of Buckinghamshire”
The third reason is that the church had a rector who was interested in astronomy and such related subjects in the person of the famous Erasmus Williams and he died in 1608
So all that we can say is that it is a very old clock and it could have been installed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I! And then adapted to a frame 75-100 years later
When the clock was in use the heavyweights had to be wound up every day