Blessing of The Hudswell Bell as it is relocated to St Andrews Church in Calstock in the Diocese of Truro. You can watch the prayer of blessing here.
We have a very active Bell Tower at St Mary's Church with the ringers taking every opportunity to ring for services, to welcome visiting ringers to the tower, and practicing on a Tuesday evening. Our Bell Captain is Susan Welch and you can contact her on 823700. For more information on the bells please scroll down or use the Dove's Guide link here.
We have recently completed a successful project to install new bells and ropes.
For more information and pictures please see our website on the link below.
Richmond Bells Project website.
Bells of the Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Eight new bells were cast by John Taylor & Co in 2016 and hung in a new frame in 2017.
Details of the new bells are enclosed below:
Treble Weight 3 – 1 – 18 (cwt, quarters, pounds). Note G. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“Helping young disabled people to fulfil their dreams and ambitions.
The Paul Curran Celebration Trust”.
Bell 2 Weight 3 – 2 - 5. Note F#. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“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. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“In memory of Lucy Eleanor Sunley 19.11.21 – 24.12.68.”
Bell 4 Weight 4 – 4 – 24. Note D. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“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. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“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. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“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. John Taylor & Co 2016.
“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 bonae voluntatis”.
Pre-2017 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 – 3. Note G. Samuel I Smith 1697.
“Gloria in excelsis Deo 1697”.
Other bells
Small 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 nave by the organ pipes was taken from the bell turret of St Michael and all Angels Church Hudswell 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”
Other pre- 2016 bells no longer in St Mary’s
Pre -2016 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”
Pre -2016 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 binging their existing set of 4 bells (the oldest cast in 1350) up to a ring of 6 bells.
Pre -2016 Bell 8 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.