The Church Bells of Kent
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE CHURCH BELLS OF KENT BY J. C. L. STAHLSCHMIDT File 07 – Pages 416 to 455 (Part of Part III, Index, Plates) Inscriptions, Stockbury to Yalding This document is provided for you by The Whiting Society of Ringers visit www.whitingsociety.org.uk for the full range of publications and articles about bells and change ringing 6 Purchased from ebay store retromedia 4 1 Inscriptions. STOCKBURY. St. Mary Magdalene. 5 Bells. I., 3c-in. lOHN WILNAR 1634 II., 3iJ,-in- Same. III., seln. I0H>1 WILMAR MADE ME 1634 IV., 38i-in. Same. v., 42|-in. I^W 1635 In 1456, Reginald atte Pette of this parish bequeathed towards a new bell called trebyll vj.y. viijV, ("Testamenta Vetusta," p. 286). Passing bell rung as soon as notice received, but not after sunset. Tenor bell used for adults, 4th for those between twelve and twenty, 3rd for children under twelve. Tellers, 3 x 3 for male, 3 x 2 for female. Minute bell on day of funeral. Same bell used as for passing bell. Bells usually chimed, but occasionally rung for services. Peals formerly on loyal anniversaries, but discontinued " on the abolition of church rates," i.e., when local funds ceased to afford a tip to the ringers. Best thanks to Vicar, the Rev. T. Cobb. STODMARSH. St. Mary. 2 Bells. I., 24-in. + wi:yitmy^^ ^i:€r,^m<s M-XM^jF^mi II., 251-in. A BOVE ALL THINGS LOVE GOD The smaller bell is a curious specimen of early bell-founding, the lettering being placed on the shoulder angle. It is probably earlier than 1300 (see p. 8). The larger bell is probably of Elizabethan date. STOKE AT HOO. St. John Baptist. 3 Bells. I., in. 28 THE REV':'° A : E : O : HARIS VICAR. TAYLOR & C-^ LOUGHBOROUGH W : S : MEERS R° ALLEN CHURCHWARDENS 1861 II., 29i-in. UTiUiam \\^iz\i tnatrc me T B T S C W 1641 III., 32-in. -ItoooGoRoooooo* 1589 Death knell rung as soon as possible. Tellers, 3x3 for male, 3 x 2 for female. Bell tolled before funerals. 7 Purchased from ebay store retromedia Inscriptions. 4 1 Sundays. — Bells chimed for services. Ring in on tenor last five minutes. Treble rung for vestry meetings. Best thanks to Vicar, the Rev. A. E. O. Harris. STONE BY DARTFORD. St. Mary. 2 Bells. I., 2 7i-in. The Gift of Henry Draper 1691 Thomas Elliot Thomas CoLYER Church Wardens Recast The Rev" Thomas Heathcote Rector William Netleingham John Sharp Church Wardens 1806 T: Mears & Son of London Fecit n., 31-in. John & Christopher Hodson Made Me 1676 Nicholas TooKE Church Wardens Recast The Rev° Thomas Heathcote Rector William Netleingham John Sharp Church Wardens 1806 T Mears & Son of London Fecit T. R. E. Item iij bells in the steple suted of brasse a saints bell of brasse and two sacryng bells of brasse. There were five bells in Hasted's time, but (in 1805?) the spire was burnt and the bells melted. Passing bell rung as soon as possible after death. A bell tolled at funerals. Sundays.—Bells rung for service only. Ringing on New Year's Eve. Best thanks to Rector, the Rev. F. W. Murray. Green Street Green Chapel. i Bell. Doubtless a small modern tinkler. New Brent Chapel. i Bell. Doubtless same as last. STONE IN OXNEY. St. Mary. 6 Bells. I., 28i-in. Mess':^ Sion Rofe & Jn° Milsted Ch. Wardens W & T Mears of London Fecit 17S8 IL, 29-in. Mess'^^ Jon Milsted & Sion Row Ch. Warkkns AV" Meaks of London Fecit 1786 ; H 8 ; Purchased from ebay store retromedia 4 1 Inscriptions. III., 3oi-in. + (Fig. 14) T52'iJX J^^Si^lxwx Ht^ncf %\\ J5.\rfc :E)ei J. (Fig. 18) U(Fig. 17) IV., 332-in- John Milsted & Stephen Samson Church Wardens Tho^ Mears of London Fecit 1795 v., 37-in. SiHON Rose & Jn° Milsted Ch : Wardens W &T Mears Late Lester Pack & Chapman of London Fecit 1787 VI., 42-in. SiHON Rose Jn'' Milsted Ch : Wardens W &T Mears Late Lester Pack & Chapman of London Fecit 1787 For account of 3rd bell, see p. ^t^. T. R. E. Item v bells in the steple one over the chancel and ij hand bells. The " one over the chancel " was of course the Sanctus bell. The hole in the beam over the chancel arch (through which the rope passed) still remains. Parish records state the treble to have been recast in 1720. This was, probably, the present second. STOURMOUTH. All Saints. 3 Bells. L, 2%\-\x\. inV^P^I Ijafdi l^a^e \\\t T 1638 II., 27-in. Same. 1605 III., 3oi-in. ^N%y>rs^-%M^mi mM-^^mm^n. ^m^M-^i^m XIl©" 1615 Passing bell rung as soon as possible. Tellers— 3 x 3 for man, 3 x 2 for woman. Bells chimed on Sundays for services only. Ringing on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve; also on 5th November. Best thanks to Rector, the Rev. W. J. Smallwood. STOWTING. St. Mary. 4 Bells. L, 25-in. WILL. ANSELL S K 1721 IL, 25-in. + ^^M ^ ^ III., 28-in. S U K I U W FECIT 1721 IV., 30-in. lOHN ANSELL RECTOR S K 1721 For mention of No. 2, see p. 42. The Sanctus bell-cote at east end of nave still remains, but tenantless now the bell, however, was there within living memory. : 9 Purchased from ebay store retromedia Inscriptions. 4 1 Passing bell rung as soon as notice received. Tellers — 3 x 3 for man, 3x2 for woman. On day of burial, a bell tolled in the morning and again at time of funeral. " Sundays. —Tenor bell rung at 8 a.m. (" Matins bell). For services, all four bells are chimed. Ringing on New Year's Eve. According to the parochial records, new bell-ropes were purchased almost annually here, as in many other places in the county, so long as church rates existed. The old ones were the perquisites of the outgoing churchwardens, being very useful (especially when not too much worn) for plough-traces, etc. The following agreement for recasting the three old bells into four, in 1721, is copied from the original, preserved in the parish chest Articles of Agreement indented made and concluded on the seventeenth day of May in the seventh yeare of the raigne of our souaigne Lord George by the grace of God now King of Greate britain etc Annoq, dni 1 72 1 Betweene William fifuks Churchwarden of the parish Church of Sto wting in the county of Kent of the one parte and Job Potter of Leeds in the county aforesaid Carpenter of the other parte as followeth—viz. Inp"^ Whereas there is belonging to the said Church in Stowting now but three old bells it is covenanted granted concluded & mutually agreed by & betweene the said parties that the said Job Potter His executors admo""^ or assignes shall & will cast or cause to be cast the said three old bells and make of them four good tunable new bells But if in case at the time when the new bells shall be weigd to the said Churchwarden the four new bells if the waite of them be more then the three old was when waid that then the said William ffukes his successors or assignes shall pay or cause to be paid unto the said Job Potter his heires or assignes the sum of thirteen pence per pound for euy pound waite that shall be more then the old bells waid soe that there be not exceeded in waite above one halfe hundred waite more but if in case the four new bells shall be in waite less then the three old was then the said Job Potter his heires or assignes shall pay or cause to be paid unto the said William flukes or his successars the sum of twelve pence per pound for euy pound as shall be in waite wanting of the waite of the old bells. Item the said Job Potter doth for himselfe his heires or assignes covenant promise & agree to «S>: with the said W'" ffukes his heires <& assignes That he the said Job Potter his heires & assignes shall & will make a good sufficient new frame to place the said new bells in & to find all Jron worke stocks i\: ^ IJ 2 Purchased from ebay store retromedia 420 l7isc7'iptions. all the old wheeles & ei'iy thing thereunto belonging (he or they haveing worke thereunto belonging) The ropes & the Carriage of the old bells to Hythe And fetching of the new bells to Stowting Church when new cast which the said W"^ ffukes or his successars is to be at the charge of only excepted And further that if in case the said parishioners shall judge or find any of the bells not tunable when rung then they being at the charge of the carriage as aforesaid the same shall be new cast and made tunable. Itm that the said new bells shall be cast i\nd that all the worke shall be done and finished strong and substanshally within three months time next ensueing after the date hereof fitt to be rung. Itm the said William ffukes for inconsideracon of the fJmisses doth for him- selfe and his successars covenant promise & agree to and with the said Job Potter his heires & assignes That he the said ^Villiam ffukes or his successars shall and will well & truely pay or cause to be paid therefore unto the said Job Potter his heires or assignes the full & just sume of five & thirty pounds of Lawfull money of Create britain in maner & forme following (that is to say) seventeen pounds & tenn shillings pt thereof on the day the said bells shall be first rung And seventeen pounds &: tenn shillings residue thereof on that Twelvemonths next ensueing thereof without any fraud or further delay in either of the said payments x^nd for the true performance of all &: ei'iy of the abovementened covenants Articles & agreements either of the said parties bindeth themselves unto the other firmely by these |^sents In witness wherof the said |ities first above named to this fJsent Articles of Agreement their hands & scales have hereunto interchangably sett.