Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

The Bells of the City of London
News
Rev'd David L Cawley RIP
I am sorry to report the passing of the Revd David L Cawley of Canterbury who died in the morning of 6 February, aged 79, following a battle with cancer. David was a well known authoritative bell historian who contibuted heavily to Love's Guide to the Church Bells of London. He was instrumental in getting permission for and arranging the ringing on the new bells of St Dunstan-in-the-East for a few years before they were removed. He also introduced Dickon Love to St Magnus and inspired that project and all that followed. A very good friend to so many, he will be greatly missed.
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Bell at St Anne & St Agnes restored
This church has lately been restored by St Vedast PCC concluding with the restoration of the bell for full circle ringing. The work was completed by Nicholson Engineering.
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A new Church Bells of London website
The Church Bells of the City of London website has been rebuilt and relaunched using a more modern webdesign and incorporating new features.
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Latest Updates
13 Aug 23St Bartholomew the LessOverhaul of all details plus dendrochronology report of frame
01 Mar 23St Magnus the MartyrPhotos of old bells
27 Dec 22St Olave, Hart StUpdated tenor weight
23 Sep 22BELLFRAME INFONow added in more detail where known across the site
02 Mar 22St James GarlickhythePhotographs from the casting and installation of the new bells in 2012, including on the River Thames
10 Oct 20St Dunstan-in-the-EastNew picture from John Pladdys collection
30 Aug 20All bells (where known) are now marked as being in one of 4 states: hung for ringing, swinging, dead or unhung.
22 Aug 20St Swithin London StoneFate of service bell discovered
15 Mar 20St Anne & St AgnesBell restored.
11 Dec 19MapUpdated map
20 Nov 19St Michael CornhillAdditional photos of the restoration work
This site is maintained by Dickon Love MBE as a place to record his research into belfry archaeology and history in the City of London. Information comes from many sources, and Dickon is grateful to all those who have contributed to this research, particularly Chris Pickford, David Cawley, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and John Taylor Bellfounders. It aims to cover all bells in the City of London, both extant and those lost to history. Any corrections, comments, additions or observations would be gratefully received. 
Dickon Love MBE is an active bellringer in the City of London and is a Past Master and Hon Librarian of the Ancient Society of College Youths, who are responsible for ringing the bells at the major towers in the City. He is Tower Keeper/Captain at St Magnus the Martyr, St James Garlickhythe and St Mary Woolnoth. He conceived and ran the projects to install the new bells at St Magnus the Martyr, St Dunstan-in-the-West and St James Garlickhythe. The latter of these are the Royal Jubilee Bells which he managed when they rang on the River Thames, leading the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. He is Churchwarden at St Magnus the Martyr, Parish Clerk of St Clement Eastcheap and the 'Company Bellringer' for the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks.  He is also a member of the Cambridge University Guild and resident member of the Middlesex County Association & London Diocesan Guild, and is a Life Member of the Kent County Association.  His primary interest is in the history of bells and bell towers, and the focus of his research is on the the Cities of London and Westminster and the County of Kent.  He makes his living as a management consultant working in central government and his other interests concern learning the Polish language and running marathons. In 2024 he was awarded the MBE for services to bellringing in London and Kent.

Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London