The Church Bells

There were three bells hanging in the bell tower up until December 2023 when they were taken down for major restoration work to the bells and the wooden bell frame in the tower. We hope that in June 2024 they will be re-hung with an additional three bells giving St Mary’s a peal of six bells for the first time. The bell frame had been of concern for a number of years. Marshchapel Arts agreed to provide a starter fund of £3000 and this was built upon by grants, and generous donations.

There is a group of bell ringers who meet on Tuesday evenings. All welcome to join in and learn the art of campanology. 

The original three bells consisted of;

A treble bell which was recast by Taylor’s in 1919. Before this it had the inscription ‘Daniel Hedderley made me 1742’. It is 35 inches in diameter and weighs 7 hundredweight, 2 quarters and 24 lbs, in metric approx 400kg. The present inscription tells of the Great War and bears the names of the men in the parish who died in the conflict.
J. H. Johnson, H. Johnson, C. Johnson, W. Leak, A. Sergent, J. E. Younger, J. Straw, C. Moore, C. Rushby. FEAR GOD HONOUR THE KING.

The second bell made in 1689 bears the names of Matthew Addison and Thomas Farrow, wardens. Their initials appear on a beam above the bells which has been saved when the frame was removed. They repaired the steeple in 1699. The bell has a ribbon running round it with a bell pattern ornament and the makes initials S.S Ebor, Samuel Smith, the elder of York. The bell is 39 inches in diameter and weighs 9 hundredweight, 3 quarters and 1lb, in metric approx 495kg.

The third bell, the heaviest had some ancient coins embedded in its rim. It is named John, and bears the design of an eagle feeding (or devouring) a child. It also shows the Tudor rose and crown. It is a rare example of a late-named bell and was made in 1584 during the reign oh Henry VIII. The bell was cast in a Nottingham foundry. The bell is 42 and a half inches in diameter and weights 13 hundredweight and 18lbs, in metric approx 670kg.