Bebington - St Andrew

Last updated 18 February 2002

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BELLS

Three earlier bells, known to be in existence in 1549, were recast into "a musical sequence" in the seventeenth century and remained in use up to the early nineteenth century. In 1825 the bell frame was badly decayed and two bells, including the original tenor, had to be taken down. The tenor was sold for use at St Peter's, Rock Ferry. In 1845 a new peal of six bells (tenor 6-2-24) was cast by C & G Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The present octave (above) included the original six but with the old fourth recast a semitone lower to become the 5th of the octave.

From masons' marks, the lower parts of the tower date from the very early 14th century while the "ringing loft" dates from the middle of that century. The door to the outside of the tower was blocked in the 18th century, when a new door was cut within the church, but was re-opened in 1847. The tower had been rebuilt in 1805 after being struck by lightning. The last work of any significance was carried out in 1905.

Extracted from the booklet, ST. ANDREW'S BEBINGTON by Richard Lancelyn Green, except that name of founders of the 1845 bells was given in that source as 'George Mears & Company of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry', whereas, in 1845, the company was trading under the name as shown in the table above.

Note:

From the copy of a framed document in the Ringing Chamber, the 1907 augmentation was proposed at a time when it was considered by the Churchwardens "that the framework and fittings are in such a condition that they may at any moment give way, so that it is quite unsafe to ring the bells. ... and a new framework and re-hanging of the bells seems absolutely necessary".

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