St Katherine Cree

ST KATHERINE CREE, Leadenhall St

	6 ringing bells (5 ringable) + disused clock bell
	Tenor: 10-1-23 in G sharp (823Hz)
	Anticlockwise
	Retuned: Never subsequently retuned
	Frame: 1754 Robert Catlin

	Upstairs ringing room.
	Tenor without fittings and unringable

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Cast	Note*	Founder
Treble	4ž cwt approx.	27˝"	1754	E	Thomas Lester
2	5ź cwt approx.	29"	1754	D sharp	Thomas Lester
3	5ž cwt approx.	30ž"	1754	C	Thomas Lester
4	6-0-14 approx.	32"	1754	B	Thomas Lester
5	8-0-14 approx.	35˝"	1754	A	Thomas Lester
Tenor	10-1-23	39"	1842	G sharp	Thomas Mears II
Clock	3 cwt approx.	24¹³/16"	1754		Thomas Lester
*Notes given as currently pitched. Presumably these bells are supposed to be in the key of G.

THE GIFT OF NATHANIEL BENTLEY OF THIS PARISH 1754. T. LESTER & T. PACK FECIT

THO^S LESTER & THO^S PACK FECIT J754

THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER LONDON. 1842

MR R: B. WHITESIDE
MR GEORGE BRIDGER

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CHURCHWARDENS

THO^S LESTER & THO^S PACK FECIT J754

There are borders on 2, 3, 4 & 5. All are different. The clock bell has the same border as the 5th.
Single canons have been broken off bells 1-5. The clock bell used to have a wheel but is not rung.

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Cast	Founder
6 (of 6)	11-0-21		1754	Thomas Lester

1504		Tower built.
1552		Record of 6 bells and a sanctus ("belles hangynge in the Steple greate and smalle Syxe" and a sacring bell).
1629		Church rebuilt (except for the lower part which dates from 1584). The new church was 15ft above the old church as shown by a pillar of the old church still standing at the west end adjoining the tower.
1666		Church survived the Great Fire.
1708		Record of 5 bells.
1714		Record of 5 bells.
1722		Stow reported that Sir Thomas Audley offered bells from Holy Trinity Priory in exchange for having the church rebuilt nearer the street, but the parishioners refused the offer.
1733		The Rambling ringers (of the College Youths) rang some Grandsire Doubles on the five bells but "the bells were in sutch bad repair that they had mutch ado to make em answer".
1754		The bells were recast into a new ring of six by Lester & Pack.
1754	4th May	Robert Catlin was paid Ł5.18.0.
1754	14th Nov.	Churchwardens accounts give "Thomas Lester Founder for Recasting the 5 Bells and 2 New ones Ł110.18.0"
1754	22nd Nov.	Churchwardens accounts give "Doughsell for Ringers at hanging the Bells Ł1.15.10."
1755	1st May	Churchwardens accounts give "Mr. Jennings his Expences at tuning ye Bells 6s.6d
1842		Tenor recast by Thomas Mears II. (Whitechapel Daybook 7th Nov: To: A bell C 10-1-23 Ł73-3-9, Rehanging etc. Ł13-0-0, total Ł86-3-9; By Old bell C11-0-21 Ł52-4-2, net total Ł33-19-7; Providing and fixing a new set of supporting ironwork, new Chiming hammer, Clock hammer with springs & supports, cleaning & refitting the bell, Ł8-8-0.)
1911		The bells were rehung by Mears & Stainbank. (Whitechapel Daybook 8th Sept: To lifting out the six bells, turning them, and adapting headstocks to suit the cannons, fitting new supporting ironwork, new ends to the old clappers, new leathers and bolts, and replacing the bells in their old bearings for chiming, including bell hangers time and journeys, use of tackle also adjusting the rollers and cleaning the Bells with wire brushes, Ł29- -.")
1962		Church restored.
2007		Wheels put on the front 5 allowing them to rung with care. Ongoing restoration taking place to get the front 5 ringable. Plans prepared to rehang all 6 bells in a new frame lower in the tower.