Richmond bells old and new

As well as our new eight John Taylor bells, five bells of historic interest are displayed in the belfry above the ringing bells. Two other bells of interest are displayed in the church and three bells have gone to other churches. Details of the bells and their inscriptions are enclosed below.

Our 8 new bells in the key of G were cast by John Taylor foundry in 2016

Treble Weight 3 – 1 – 18 (cwt, quarters, pounds). Note G.  “Helping young disabled people to fulfil their dreams and ambitions.
The Paul Curran Celebration Trust”.

Bell 2     Weight 3 – 2 - 5. Note F#.
“The gift of the people of Richmond, its Council and Guilds. Recognising the support of Lawrence Mark Dundas, 4th Marquess of Zetland whose grandfather donated the original second bell in AD 1904”. “God grant grace”.

Bell 3     Weight 3 – 3 – 15. Note E.
“In memory of Lucy Eleanor Sunley 19.11.21 – 24.12.68.”

Bell 4    Weight 4 – 4 – 24. Note D.
“The gift of Richmond bellringers. Susan Welch Tower Captain and Ringing Master 2007- “
“Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals”.

Bell 5     Weight 5 – 2 – 3. Note C.
“The gift of the congregation of St Mary’s Church. Canon John Chambers Rector, Roy Morel and David Frankton Churchwardens”.
“My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour”.

Bell 6     Weight 6 – 1 – 4. Note B.
“Cast by the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers in Memory of J. Colin Ashworth of Heptonstall. Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers founded 1875”.

Bell 7    Weight 8 – 1 – 20. Note A.
This bell was presented to St Mary’s Church by The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1688 – 2013 to commemorate the Regiment’s long and happy association with the Church. Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment”. (Included is the cap-badge motif of the Green Howards regiment).

Bell 8     Weight 11 – 1 – 0. Note G. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“The gift of the Slade family, ringers at this church Andrew & Elizabeth Alexander & Eleanor.
Andrew Slade Ringer at this church since 1979 Ringing Master and Tower Captain 1980 – 2007”.
“Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus"

The bells of historic interest displayed in the belfry

Old Bell 3 Weight 5 – 0 – 9. Note D. Edward II Seller 1739.
“The Right Honourable Sir Conyers D’Arcy, Knight of the Bath, Member of Parliament for Richmond, Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire, Comptroller of his Majesty’s Household, and one of His Privy Council”, also inscribed are the D’Arcy arms and “Tria juncta in uno”

Old Bell 4 Weight 4 – 1 – 22. Note C. Samuel 1 Smith of York 1697. “1697 Venite exultemus Domino. SS Ebor”.

Old Bell 5 Weight 5 – 1 – 23. Note Bb. Samuel 1 Smith 1697.
“1697. Novum cantata Domino canticum. S.S Ebor”.

Old Bell 6 Weight 7 – 0 – 22. Note A. Richard II Seliok c1530.
“Unus Deus sca Trinitas”. Also shown is the Seliok shield.

Old Bell 7 Weight 8-0-0 Note G Samuel 1 Smith 1697 “Gloria in excelsis Deo 1697”.

Other bells displayed in St Mary's

Memorial Bell at bottom of spiral staircase Weight 0 – 2 – 9. D+ 44 cents. “In mem Reginald Brand and John Watkin killed in the Great War 1914 – 1919”

"The Hudswell Bell" in the North- East corner of the nave by the organ pipes. This with its frame was in the bell turret of St Michael and all Angels Church Hudswell and was removed prior to de-consecration. Weight 1 – 2 – 0. Note between G and G#. Samuel II Smith. “1715 T.H. T.T. Church Wardens. Voco veni precare”

Previous St Mary's bells no longer in St Mary's

Old bell 1  Weight 4-2-10 Note F#. J Warner 1904. “To the Glory of God. This bell was erected by Public subscription A.D. 1904. L. S. Robinson M.A. Rector C. G. Croft M.A. Albert Morton Churchwardens”
Old Bell 2         Weight 4 – 2 – 26. Note E#. J Warner 1904. “Presented by Lawrence Dundas 1st Marquess And 3rd Earl of Zetland K.T, P.C: A.D. 1904”.
Both these bells were bought by the Keltek Trust in 2016 and donated by the Trust to St Faith's Church Dorstone, Herefordshire bringing their existing set of 4 bells (the oldest cast in 1350) up to a ring of six.
Old Tenor   Weight 11 – 0 – 0. Note F#. J Warner 1862.
“Cast by John Warner & Sons London 1862. Patent”, also included are the Royal Arms.
This bell now hangs in XII Apostles Church Chemmalamattom, Kerala, South India, the transport costs being paid by the people of Richmond.
The Passing Bell  or Great bell This bell (Wt 13-2-22, 1697 Samuel 1 Smith of York) cracked and was replaced by the 1862 Warner tenor. Its inscription read “ante jacetis humo sonitu resipiscite moesto” (variously translated as “before you lie in earth, repent at the sad sound” or "... be revived or recover your senses at the sad sound").