Report of the Clock Synchronisation Exercise
Inspection
Exercise date: 19 October 2026
Report and follow-up: 20 October 2026
Recorded by: Geoff Thomas, Caretaker
The Clock Synchronisation Exercise was held in accordance with the published instructions to determine which of the Chapel's three clocks should be relied upon when recording meetings, services and other matters involving a time.
The exercise began at approximately 2pm. A more definite start time could not be agreed ahead of the findings.
1. Initial observations
The clocks were observed on an agreed signal by separate volunteers. No adjustments were made beforehand.
| Clock | Location | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| A | Main Chapel room | 14:03 |
| B | Vestry | 13:57 |
| C | Jean's Hatch | 14:01 |
The difference between the earliest and latest Chapel readings was six minutes. This confirmed that a person could be late in the main room while still having time to spare in the vestry.
2. Supporting readings
Five portable devices were read on the same signal. They were recorded separately so that personal ownership would not be mistaken for official standing.
| Device | Reading |
|---|---|
| Stephen Shurman's mobile telephone | 14:00 |
| Glyn Huffmorton's mobile telephone | 14:00 |
| A third attendee's mobile telephone | 14:00 |
| Wristwatch 1 | 13:58 |
| Wristwatch 2 | 14:04 |
The two wristwatches were retained in the evidence despite increasing the disagreement.
3. Ten-minute assessment
The observation period was measured using a telephone stopwatch rather than any of the clocks under examination.
| Clock | Initial reading | After ten minutes | Advance |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 14:03 | 14:13 | 10 minutes |
| B | 13:57 | 14:07 | 10 minutes |
| C | 14:01 | 14:11 | 10 minutes |
All three advanced by ten minutes at the precision recorded. None was observed to fall further behind during the test. Available maintenance information did not establish which had originally been set correctly.
Geoff considered this evidence that all three were working. Stephen agreed that they were moving, but said that this did not settle the time.
4. Combined results
The eight initial readings were brought together for the following assessment. The later readings were excluded from this calculation because they referred to a different moment.
| Measure | Combined finding |
|---|---|
| Timekeeping devices compared | 8 |
| Earliest reading | 13:57 |
| Latest reading | 14:04 |
| Overall spread | 7 minutes |
| Most frequently displayed time | 14:00, on 3 devices |
| Arithmetic mean of initial readings | 14:00:22.5 |
| Chapel clocks initially agreeing with the most common reading | 0 |
Stephen advised against adopting the average, since averaging clocks had not established that any of them was correct. Geoff asked that the calculation remain in the report because it had taken some time to complete.
The combined findings established a need for synchronisation. They did not establish an existing Chapel clock as the correct one.
5. Selection and synchronisation
The Committee therefore used the majority-vote provision in the instructions. Clock A was selected by two votes to one as the Official Chapel Time Reference, principally because it could be seen from the main meeting area. Geoff and Glyn voted for A; Stephen preferred the vestry clock but accepted the decision.
Selection did not validate Clock A's existing reading.
For the final stage, the Committee accepted the automatically set time on Stephen's mobile telephone, checked against Glyn's separately connected telephone, as its external reference. Geoff confirmed that the previously considered computer-based world-clock page had been retained only as a backup and was not used for this determination.
At the agreed setting signal, the accepted reference read 14:27. Clock A was put back three minutes, Clock B forward three minutes and Clock C back one minute. All three then displayed 14:27.
Geoff requested that Clock A's successful selection be recorded separately from the subsequent correction of its time.
6. Physical changes
Following synchronisation, a label reading OFFICIAL CHAPEL TIME REFERENCE was fixed beneath Clock A. The vestry and Hatch clocks were labelled SET TO OFFICIAL CHAPEL TIME to distinguish their supporting role.
No replacement clocks were purchased.
7. Website display
On 20 October, a digital display was added to the Chapel website. It reads OFFICIAL CHAPEL TIME, followed by the hour and minute in the 24-hour format.
The display uses the readings from Clock A. It is not entirely clear how this was engineered but it’s synchronised to the second as if by magic.
Geoff agreed to retain this explanation in the record.
8. Outcome
The three Chapel clocks were brought into agreement, one was clearly designated as the reference, and a digital time display was provided on the website.
Geoff will compare the physical clocks with the accepted external reference at the next opening and after the seasonal clock change on 25 October. Any renewed discrepancy will be recorded before adjustment.
Previous attendance and lateness disputes will not be reopened solely on the basis of these findings, since the exercise did not establish what any of the clocks had displayed on the dates concerned.
The exercise was recorded as complete. Tea was served afterwards.