The Church Bells of Worcestershire by H. B. Walters File 02: Part II: Alphabetical List, Castle Morton to Evesham (Pages 59 to 117) 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 59 THE CHURCH BELLS OF WORCESTERSHIRE ; THEIR INSCRIPTIONS AND HISTORY, ARRANGED ALPHA­ BETICALLY BY PARISHES. BY H. B. WALTERS, M.A., F.S.A. PART II. (CASTLE MoR TON -EVESHAM]. CASTLE MORTON. St. Gregory. Six bells. 1. E. C. DOBREE FOX VICAR LLEWELLINS & JAMES BRISTOL R. S. SMITH CHURCHWARDENS H. J. WILCOX 1896. 2. THE GIFT OF THE YouTH OF THis PARISH 1695 (border). 3. AB : RVDHALL : BELLFOVNDER : IOHN BRO- THERIGH (border) 95 4. As No. 1. 5. RECAST BY IOHN RUDHALL 1796 6. As No 1. Formerly five bells ; old 3rd and 5th recast and treble added by Llewellins and Jarnes of Bristol 1896. The two old bells were inscribed WILLM BOND SAM : BEALE WILLM SAWFORD A (bell) R 1695 (below, a border of vine pattern with a bell) and IOHN BROTHERIGH : RICH : CARTWRIGHT : CHVRCHWARDENS: 1695: 1552 : ' iiij bells in the steple, a saunce bell, a lyche bell, iij sacring belles.' 1740: '5 Bells.' Inscriptions given by Prattinton (under Longdon). V. 0. H. Wares. iv. p. 52. H.B.W., 1890. 60 CATSIDLL. Christchurch. One bell. Church built 1838; parish formed from Bromsgrove. CHACELEY. St. John Baptist. Six bells. l. WHEN YOV ME RING I'LE SWEETLY SING (scroll) A (bell) R 1719 (scroll) 2. GOD SAVE THE KING AND CHVRCH 1699 A.R. (bell). 3. PROSPERITY TO ENGLAND & THIS PARISH A (bell) R (border) 1699 (Border below). 4. PROSPERITY TO ALL OVR BENEFACTORS A (bell) R 1718. 5. RING VS TRV WE WILL PRAISE YOV ABRA RVDHALL: 1699. 6. · A RVDHALL CAST MEE (border) 1703. Bells rehung about 1880 ; 1st and 4th hung above the rest. All by Abraham Rudhall. There are peal-boards in the belfry, dated 1842 and 1865. 1552: CHATTISLEY. iiij grete bells a liche bell.' 1740 : ' 6 bells.' Inscriptions given by Prattinton (under Longdon). V . C. JI. Wares. iv. p. 56. H.T.T., 1878. The parish is now in Gloucester Diocese. CHADDESLEY CORBETT. St. Cassyon. 8+1 bells. l. 1783 (floral scrolls). 2. 1783 (floral scrolls). 3. Above, vine pattern. WHEN YOV MEE RING I SWEETLY SING A (bell) R 1701 (vine-pattern). 4. Above, vine-pattern. WE ALL TO RING GOD SAVE THE KING (arabesques) 1701 (arabesques). 5. GOD PROSPER THIS CHVRCH AND PARISH (arabesques) 1701 (arabesques) . 61 6. C. & G. MEARS FOUNDERS, LONDON MAY GOD BLESS ALL WHOM I DO CALL W . S. WHITE VICAR ~: !~~:~LS f CHURCHWARDENS V.R. 1856 7. The same except 2nd line, which runs :- MAY OUR SWEET CIDMES MARK HAPPY TIMES 8. MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON. RECAST A.D. 1905. A.D. 1701. COST DEFRAYED BY A .R. WILLIAM BROUGHTON• MRS. S.A.GREEN, 'THE DOCTOR OF DIVINITY, VICAR• NODLANDS,' STOURBRIDGE. JOHN KYTELY,} CHURCH D . H . FRANCIS, VICAR. THOMAS HUNT, WARDENS EDWARD CORBETT } .CHURCH- DENNIS FITCH WARDENS GOD SAVE THE KING. GOD SAVE THE KING. 8 . MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON, 1891. The old tenor was inscribed (nearly as reproduced on the new one):- WILLIAM BROVGHTON DOCTOR IN DIVINITY VICAR A R (bell) IOHN KYTELY THOMAS HVNT CHVRCHWARDENS 1701 GOD SAVE THE KING (Weight 16cwt.). · The first two are additions by Charles and John Rudhall, the original ring being six of 1701 cast by Abraham Rudhall. Noake, Rambler in Worcs. ii. p. 218 gives the old inscrip­ tions on the 6th and 7th as PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD 1701 and C. & J. RUDHALL FOUNDERS 1783. but he does not give the inscriptions in order or the number of each bell. The Rev. W. Broughton (see old tenor) was Vicar 1665- 1717, and also Vicar of Rushock; the Rev. W. S. White was Vicar 1855-1860. · 1552 : ' in the steple iiij bells.' 1740 : ' 6 bells.' Pratt,in­ ton notes ' 8 Bells three new oast.' V.C.H. Worcs. iii. p. 41. H.T.T., 1879. Very many thanks to Mr. J. F. Parker for an admirable set of rubbings. Fig. 54. CHURCH LENCH. Figs. 55-57. CLAlNES. Fig ;)X BAGLEY'S !STOP 57. Ff.,._ fi9_ .T. :\1AR1'TN'S! RORDEJR_ 63 CHARLTON. St. John Evangelist. One bell. Parish formed in 1874 from Cropthorne. CHURCH LENCH. All Saints. Six bells. 1. J. TAYLOR & C'?. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1870 On waist ;-DISCE MORI NOSTRO VIVERE DISCE SONO 2.-4. As No. 1, with date 1868 on 2nd, 1869 on 3rd and 4th. 2. On waist :-COLLAUDATE DOMINUM 3. , NOMEN DOMINI COLLAUDETUR 4. TE DEUM LAUDAMUS SOLI DEO " GLORIA PAX HOMINIBUS 5. GEVEF THANKS (Fig. 49) TO GOD (Fig. 49) THOMAS EMES (Fig. 49) lAMES ELESON (Fig. 49) THOMAS KNITE (Fig. 49 twice) (border Fig. 54) 2nd line :-(Fig. 49) RICHARD APPLBE (Fig. 49) C (Fig. 49) 1600 T W H F B (Fig. 49) (border Fig. 54) . 6. J. TAYLOR & C'?.BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1868 On waist :-lf4 MISERERE MEI DOMINE I IESU MERCY I R.I.P. lf4 EGO MARTINUS AMPHLETT HUJ: ECCL RECTOR TIBI DEUS GRATIAS AGO ET HOC MODO COMMEMORO CONSERVATIONEM MEAM DOMINE NOV'!. 17 1868 Formerly three bells, of which the present 5th formed the 2nd. Prattinton says 'three large bells now out of ordor,' and gives the inscriptions on the other two as 1. SOLI DEO GLORIA PAX HOMINIBVS 1658 3. ROBERT HANBIGHE NATHANIEL WALL CH W SOLI DEO GLORIA PAX HOMINIBVS 1662. [This bell was sold in 1837 ; see below]. Both evidently by John Mart·i!l. On the present 5th H.F.B. denotes' Henry Farmer beli founder.' Cf. Broadway (Fig. 45), and for the T.W. (probably Farmer's foreman) cf Martin Hussingtroe, and Westcote, Gloucs. The border Fig 64 54 also occurs at Elmley Castle. The S of ELESON is re­ versed. At a parish meeting held on the first of February 1837 Mr. Jno. Tovey in the Chair, it was unanimously agreed to accept the offer of 9d. per lb. for the metal contained in the tenor bell, which offer was made by Mr. Mears Bellfounder of Gloucester, and to appropriate such pa1t of the proceeds as should be required for the purpose of erecting a gallery at the West end of the Church. Also that estimates shall be received of the expense of building such gallery and such estimates shall be sent under a sealed cover , and be laid before a meeting of the Parishioners to be called for the purpose who shall be at libertiY to accept such estimates as they shall think proper. Signed by us : H. B. Whiting, Curate. John Tovey, Thos. G. Tovey, Churchwardens. Thos. William Corbett. Thomas Farr. William Green. The estimate for £46 was accepted for the gallery, but it is not stated if the expenses were entirely covered by the sale of the bell.* See Noake, Rambler in Worcs., ii. p. 177. The Rev. Martin Amphlett, who gave the new bells, was Rector 1844-1886. 1552. ' In the steple iij bells . a lytell bell called a. lyche bell.' V.C.H. Worcs. iii. p. 49. H .T.T., 1878. Thanks to Rev. C. B. Woolley, Rector. CHURCIDLL (near Kidderminster). St. James. Two bells. l. MR. IOHN COX CHVRCH WARDEN 1722 (scroll) Band of scrolls below. 2. ALL PRAYSE AND GLORY BE TO GOD FOR EVER WILLIAM LASHFORD 1672. Below, small heart-shaped trade-mark (Fig. 68). 1st by Joseph Smith of Edgbaston; scrolls as at Alvechurch. 2nd by John Martin; trade-mark Fig. 68. • Communicated by Rev. F. Smith to Archdeacon Waiters, 14 May, 1901. 65 1552 : 'in the steple ij bells.' 1740 : ' 2 bells.' Inscriptions given by Prattinton. V.C.H. Worcs., iii, p. 44. Bells very awkward of access. Many thanks to Mr. J. F. Parker. CHURCIDLL (near Worcester). St. Michael. Two bells. l. No inscription. 2. PROSPERITY TO THIS PLACE (two bells) : A R (bell) 1713 (two bells). Larger bell by Abraham Rudhall ; small letters. A bell is or was always rung at 8 a.m. on Sunday. 1552 : ' ij bells.' Prattinton MSS. ' Two modern bells, the smaller blank.' V.C.H. Worcs., iii, p. 299. H .T.T., 1879. CLAINES. St. John Baptist. Five bells. l. FRANCIS: WYTHES (coin) WILLIAM: REY­ NOLDS (coin) H : N (coin) CHVRCH : WARDENS (coin) 1686 : Below: R: D: W: H (border) 2. RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1886. 3. GLORIA IN EXCELCIS DEO 1622 (Fig. 57). 4. ~ IHESVS BE OVRE SPEDE 1623. 5. ~ GOD BLESS OVRE NOBELL KING 1623 (Fig. 56). 1st by William Huntbach of Worcester (cf . Droitwich St. Peter and Kington). R.D. seems to have been his assistant. For the lettering see Fig. 60. 2nd. The former bell, which was hopelessly cracked, with a piece broken out of the rim, was inscribed + ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQR + ABCDEFGHIKLIMNOPQ (two lions), being of the same type as Grimley tenor, Odding­ ley, etc., dating about 1480. H . T. Tilley's rubbing, taken in 1877, which was the only record of this bell, has unfortunately 66 been destroyed, and my information was copied from his notes. The cross is Fig. 104 ; the lion stamp also occurs at Grimley and Oddingley. 3rd-5th: Apparently by Richard Oldfield (cf. Lindridge, where the ornament on the 3rd also occurs). The 5th is in Oldfield's ordinary lettering, with his usual cross and shield (Figs. 55, 56) : but the lettering on the other two closely resembles the ornamental set used by James Keene, a con­ temporary Bedford founder, with whom Oldfield had some connection (see Cocks, B ucks., p.