Bells
Ringing
The bells are rung on Sunday morning before the service from 10:00 to 10:30 and there is often a quarter peal on Sunday afternoon 15:30 - 16:30.
Practice night is every other Friday 19:30 - 21:00, but please check for before attending. Alternate Fridays are quarter peals starting at 19:30.
Tower Contact: Jacqueline Barlow Contact Email: jackiebarlow28@btinternet.com Contact Phone No: 01622 762185
Original Bells
On October 25, 1876 a single John Warner and Sons bell hanging in pit 7 of the 8 bell frame, was consecrated.
At Ascenslontide, 1878 five smaller John Warner and Sons bells were added in pits 2 through 6.
| # | Inscription | Cost | Weight | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treble | Te Deum (Sarah Buckmaster) | £41-17-6 | 4-3-12 | F | 1878 |
| No. 2 | Benedictus (Herny Hughes) | £45-17-6 | 5-0-4 | E♭ | 1878 |
| No. 3 | Beati Omni (David White) | £49-12-6 | 5-2-8 | D♭ | 1878 |
| No. 4 | Jubilate (Charles Beaumont) | £53-12-6 | 6-0-2 | B | 1878 |
| No. 5 | Gloria in Excelsis (Wigan Family) | £59-10-0 | 6-2-4 | B♭ | 1878 |
| Tenor | (Building Committee Members) | £89-17-6 | 7-1-26 | A♭ | 1876 |
It was proposed that the last two bells would be named Venite Exullemus and Nunc Dimittis.
Current Bells
By the 1970s the bells were becoming increasingly difficult and a Bell Restoration Fund was launched with the object of increasing the peal to eight.
In 1974, a Gillett & Johnston bell was acquired from the redundant Bassett Keeling & Tyre church of St. Paul, Penge. This bell was originally cast in 1866 by John Warner & Sons before being recast in 1933.
Following professional advice that a full peal, at the weight intended by John Warner and Sons in 1878, might damage the tower, the decision was taken to recast the six original bells to make the front seven and to tune them to the bell from Penge.
A final peal was rung on Sunday August 11, 1979 before the bells were taken down and removed to the Whltechapel Bell Foundry for recasting.
The recasting was conducted in the presence of Father Gibbons and other representatives from the parish on Tuesday August 21, 1979.
The original oak frame was tie-bolted by Stuart Taylor in October 1979 and the new peal was hoisted into position on Saturday January 5, 1980 by Alan Hughes and KCACR members. The Bishop of Maidstone, The Rt. Rev. Richard Third, blessed the bells following the ceremony of Candlemas on Saturday February 2, 1980.
The Peal now comprises:
| # | Inscription | Weight | Note | Date | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treble | A. M. D. G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) | 2-1-12 | C | 1979 | 19¾” |
| No. 2 | RECAST FROM A BELL DONATED BY SARAH BUCKMASTER | 2-1-20 | B | 1979 | 20¾” |
| No. 3 | RECAST FROM A BELL DONATED BY HENRY HUGHES | 2-2-16 | A | 1979 | 22” |
| No. 4 | RECAST FROM A BELL DONATED BY DAVID STEPHEN WHITE | 2-2-26 | G | 1979 | 24” |
| No. 5 | RECAST FROM A BELL DONATED BY CHARLES BEAUMONT | 3-1-4 | F | 1979 | 26” |
| No. 6 | RECAST FROM A BELL DONATED BY FRANCES, LEWIS, JOHN, PERCY, CLARA, AND MABEL – CHILDREN OF MAIDSTONE AND L. D. WIGAN. | 3-3-8 | E | 1979 | 27” |
| No. 7 | THIS BELL ORIGINALLY CAST IN 1876: AND BELLS 2-6 IN 1878 BY JOHN WARNER & SONS, LONDON | 5-0-4 | D | 1979 | 29” |
| Tenor | GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON 1933 IN LOVING MEMORY OF MILLICENT 1900 – 1931 “PRAISE YE THE LORD” | 6-1-24 | C | 1933 | 32” |
The combined weight of the peal is 1 ton 6 cwt 3 stn 2 lb. That the peal was increased at all owes much to the enthusiasm of Mr & Mrs. Michael Barber.
Much of the above information comes from an article in ringing-world-1980-02-01.pdf.
Clock Bell
The clock bell, which also chimes for the Angelus, was cast in 1734 for Burham Old Church by Richard Phelps of Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The bell weighs approximately 4¾ cwt and has a diameter of 28⅞”. It is tune to the note of E. The inscription is “RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME 1734”