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| The History of the Bells |
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| Extracted from The Church Bells of Buckinghamshire (Their Inscriptions, Founders, Uses, and Traditions; &c.) by Alfred Heneage Cocks, M.A., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S(Joint) Hon. Sec. Bucks Architectural and Archaeological Society. Published 1897 by Jarrold & Sons. |
3rd. Cast during the lifetime of the first Henry Bagley, and probably at Chacombe. |
4th. probably cast at Bedford, by a Newcombe and a Watts in partnership; the inscription seems to be formed from worn-out stamps, the last two figures of the date are very doubtful (In a number of instances and in some current publications the date of founding is given as 1532. As, however, King Henry VIII was on the throne in this year, it is more likely to be 1599 when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne.) |
5th. Probably by the Henry Bagley who was working at the date this bell was cast, at Ecton. Thomas Martaine's wife is buried in the north aisle of the church, one of the pillars of the gallery resting on the stone; and a daughter of Richard Pheasant is buried in the south side of the churchyard. |
6th. Much tuned at lip; the canons were very high. |
7th. In the The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, by George Lipscomb, 1847 is mentioned a stone on the floor of the church to Thomas Osborne, who died 4th. June 1763, aged 61; he may be assumed to have been the son, if not the churchwarden himself; much tuned from lip; had large canons. (In 1714 there were reputedly 6 bells so it can be assumed that this bell was recast from an earlier one.) |
Tenor. By one of the Bagleys, at the same date as the 3rd., but evidently not by the first Henry though cast in his lifetime; the lettering is much larger, of a rather more flourished style than the ordinary sets from this foundry. The cannons were ornamented by chevron moulding; several were broken off, but still hung by the straps; the clapper bore the name J. Wykes. The large shield on the waist, surmounted by helm and crest, together measures 4 3/8 inches in height; the mantling is adjusted so as to constitute an Achievement of Arms. The arms are: a pile, charged with three bears' heads erased; in base a barrulet. Crest, a bears head erased. |
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George Lipscomb in 1847 states that:
In 1642, Sir Robert Gorges conveyed the Rectorial Tithes and the Advowson of the Vicarage to William Johnson, Esq. of Milton Briant, Co. Northampton; who, coming to reside here, re-built the greater part of the parsonage-house, which had been the ancient residence of the Rectors, and died in 1669, aged eighty years. |
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He was the father of Thomas Johnson, Esq., the donor of the tenor, who died 1696. The ancient house above mentioned, has been recently pulled down; it stood between the east end of the church and the mill which still exists. There is a stone in the chancel wall, to the memory of Thomas's daughter Catherine, who died 1680, in her tenth year. |
1714, 6 bells hung left-handed; apparently rehung in 1829 in the old cages, for under that date thereis, among the parish accounts, an 'Estimate'.To rehang the Bells on a new principle with new stocks and wheels, so as that changes may be rung on them with ease. Rehung in (?) 1893 by Mr. Blackbourn, of Salisbury, who, excellent bellhanger though he is, has cruelly mutilated this fine ring, by breaking off all the canons. |
Lipscomb in 1847 states:
..six large tuneable bells, of which the tenor weighs 28cwt. The tenor, as well as the rest, were re-cast since 1611, when there were only four bells (Lipscomb also seems confused about the casting date of the fourth bell !). On the great bell, before it was re-cast, was inscribed, Ora pro nobis virgo Maria. Cox asserts that this more probably was, Sancta Maria Ora Pro Nobis. |
| Many thanks to the Rev. J.P.Langley, Vicar. |
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| Later History |
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| In 1903 Alfred Bowell, bell founder of Ipswich, was commissioned to cast two new bells to act as trebles to the current six bells and to complete the octave. In order to accommodate these two additional bells on the same level as the existing six bells the massive oak frame had to be reconfigured and new timbers added. At the same time Westminster Chimes were added to the clock that had been installed some sixteen years earlier in honour of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Gravity type clock hammers were installed which strike on the 2nd., 3rd., 4th., 7th. and Tenor bells with two hammers on the 7th. to allow for rapid repeat. A brass plaque on the wall of the South aisle of the church records that the bells and chimes were bequeathed by Thomas Eyles supplemented by a gift from his sister Catherine Eyles. |
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The two trebles after casting in Ipswich 1903
Plaque on the south wall of the church recording the bequest by Eyles family in 1903 |
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| In 1931 all eight bells were removed from the tower for retuning and rehanging with part new fittings by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. After some reinforcement, tightening and adjustment the existing oak frame was again used when the bells returned from the foundry. This is the last time that the bells came out of the tower and this is the last major work completed on the bells in the last 76 years apart from the replacement of the Tenor wheel in 1991. |
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The Seventh bell delivered from Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1931 |
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