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The tower houses a fine ring of eight bells. All were recast and re-hung in 1913, as a memorial to the Revd. F. M. Stopford who died in office in 1912, having been Rector of Tichmarsh for 51 years, and a Chaplain to Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and George V. Before recasting, the oldest bells dated from 1688, made by the renowned Henry Bagley of Northampton. An additional 6th bell, known as John Cannard’s bell was manufactured by Henry Bagley’s apprentice Henry Penn, in 1708, and in 1781 one of the older bells was recast.. The ring of eight was completed in 1885 by the gift of two bells in memory of Florence Augusta Stopford, the Rector’s first wife. At the same time the present Church clock, which strikes the hours and quarters, replaced the previous one made by George Eayre in 1745. The re-casting in 1913 was carried out by Messrs Gillett and Johnson, Croyden, and at the base of the tower, on the interior south wall, are some interesting photographs and descriptions relating to the recasting and re-hanging, as well as of the clock.
Michael Lee, one of the bells’ maintenance engineers, has restored the photographs and has further information on the bell foundry work of Henry Penn on his website www.pennhenry.co.uk.
The bells have the following inscriptions:
Treble “In mem: Florence Augusta Stopford amici me dedicaverunt A.D.1885 Pax vobiscum”
No 2 “In mem: Florence Augusta Stopford amici me dedicaverunt A.D.1885 Et cum spiritu tuo”
No 3 “Cantate Domino canticum novum”
No 4 “GOD save the King”
No 5 “Sursum Corda” (meaning “Lift up your hearts”)
No 6 “Serve GOD and be cheerful”
No 7 “Ring out the false, ring in the true”
Tenor “This gift of eight bells was recast in memory of the Revd Frederick Manners Stopford, M.A., Rector 1861-1912. Arthur Mortimer Luckock, Rector, Henry Burgess, Richard William Twelftree, Churchwardens”
The 1885 clock
The bell cradle in the belfry
Photos Copyright