St Mary le Bow

DECLARE HIS GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN HIS WONDER AMONG ALL PEOPLE

ALBERT ARTHUR HUGHES OF THE WHITECHAPEL BELL FOUNDRY
BIRTHPLACE OF BOW BELLS SINCE 1738
NAMED ME
KATHERINE


19		56

WHOSO OFFERETH PRAISE GLORIFIETH ME

JOHN STANLEY MASON
MASTER OF THE ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS
NAMED ME
FABIAN


19		56

HIS NAME ALONE IS EXCELLENT, HIS GLORY IS ABOVE THE EARTH AND HEAVEN

LAURENCE KING F.R.I.B.A.
ARCHITECT
NAMED ME
CHRISTOPHER


19		56

IN HIS TEMPLE DOTH EVERYONE SPEAK OF HIS GLORY

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. MARGARET MOYSES
STEPHEN BERNARD GOSLING, WILLIAM JOHN AYLING
NAMED ME
MARGARET


19		56

THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL ENDURE FOR EVER

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. MILDRED BREAD STREET
STANLEY ARTHUR PHILLIPS
CHURCHWARDEN
NAMED ME
MILDRED


19		56

THEY SHALL SING IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD FOR GREAT IS THE GLORY OF THE LORD

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. FAITH UNDER ST PAULS
SIDNEY ERNEST SANDLE M.C., C.C.
NAMED ME
FAITH


19		56

I WILL SPEAK OF THE GLORIOUS HONOUR OF THY MAJESTY AND OF THY WONDROUS WORKS

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. AUGUSTINE WATLING STREET
CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS WILSON
CHURCHWARDEN
NAMED ME
AUGUSTINE


19		56

NOT UNTO US O LORD NOT UNTO US BUT UNTO THY NAME GIVE GLORY

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
ERNEST ALFRED BEARD
CHURCHWARDEN
NAMED ME
JOHN


19		56

GIVE UNTO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME. WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ALL HALLOWS BREAD STREET
STUART MAXWELL ROBERTS O.B.E., T.D., C.C.
CHURCHWARDEN
NAMED ME
TIMOTHY


19		56

10.

THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE, THEY SHALL SPEAK OF THE GLORY OF THY KINGDOM AND TALK OF THY POWER

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. PANCRAS SOPER LANE
STANLEY JAMESON TILL M.C.
CHURCHWARDEN
NAMED ME
PANCRAS


19		56

11.

O LORD MY GOD, I WILL GLORIFY THY NAME FOR EVERMORE

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ALL HALLOWS HONEY LANE
SIR CUTHBERT ACKROYD BART. LORD MAYOR
CHURCHWARDEN
NAMED ME
CUTHBERT


19		56

12.

NOW LETTEST THOU THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION

THE BELL OF THE PARISH OF
ST. MARY LE BOW
HUNG FOR CURFEW 1334 DESTROYED BY FIRE 1666
RECAST 1669. RECAST 1738
DESTROYED BY ENEMY ACTION 1941
RECAST 1956
HUGH EVAN HOPKINS O.B.E., M.A. RECTOR
HOWARD GEORGE HICKLENTON
JULIEN FREDERICK CHARLES BENNETT D.L.
CHURCHWARDENS
JOHN H.L. TRUSTRAM M.B.E., M.A., VESTRY CLERK
NAMED ME
BOW

WHITECHAPEL BELL FOUNDRY
LONDON

1469		First known reference to Bow Bells. Stow says the old steeple was built in this year.
1472		John Donne died this year and left a bequest for the upkeep of Bow bell.
1515		William Copland, churchwarden, gave a tenor to the church to augment the ring to 5.
1552		Record of 5 bells and 2 sanctus bells in the tower ("Item Fyve greate belles. Item two Sanctus belles").
1603		Society of Cheapside Scholars was founded.
1635		Record of 6 bells in the tower.
1662		Society of Cheapsde Scholars ceased to exist.
1666		Tower and bells destroyed in the Great Fire.
1669		Tenor cast by John Hodson and hung in a temporary structure. It weighed about 52 cwt.
1670 - 80		Church rebuilt by Wren. An 1866 commentator recorded that "when the church was rebuilt, the belfry was prepared for twelve bells, but only eight were placed".
1677		Front 7 bells cast for the new church and hung with the 1669 tenor in a new frame by John and Christopher Hodson.
1708		Record of "eight large unringable bells".
1734	*23rd Feb.*	The Stamford Mercury records the cracking of the tenor: "Last Tuesday the Tenor at Bow Church in Cheapside, which was accounted one of the finest Bells in England, was crack'd as they were ringing about nine o'Clock at Night.
1738		Tenor recast by Thomas Lester.
1738	*12th Oct.*	*The Norwich Gazette* reported that "Yesterday the new Tenor of Bow Church was brought on a Carriage, and hoisted into the Belfry. It weighs 5958 lb.**
1752		Citizens petitioned the vestry for recasting the bells and adding two more.
1762		Front 7 recast and 2 bells added to make 10 by Lester & Pack.
1762	*4th Jun.*	The new ring of 10 was first rung.
1822		There were concerns regarding the safety of the steeple.
1823		A new clock was provided by Thwaites and Reed that struck the hours on the tenor and quarter chimes on 4 other bells.
1824		Record of 10 bells.
1836	*26th Feb.*	The Times wrote: "These fine bells have lately been put in proper order, and a very competent band of ringers appointed, which have not been had for the last 40 years; but the parish-officers have put a decayed parishioner to be steeple-keeper, who has no more knowledge of bells than my old shoe, and therefore performs by deputy. Why not appoint a competent individual?"
1881		2 trebles added to make 12 by Mears & Stainbank.
1904		Bells rehung, but not very successfully.
1905		The quarter chimes were started. They were composed by C. V. Stanford.
1907		Bells rehung by Mears & Stainbank.
1926		Bells declared unringable.
1933		8 of the bells were recast (all except 4,5,9 and 11) by Gillett & Johnston, the gift of H. Gordon Selfridge.
1941	*11th May*	Bells destroyed by a German air raid during the Second World War.
1956		A new ring of 12 was cast by Mears & Stainbank.
1961	*21st Dec.*	Bells rung for the first time.

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Note	Cast	Founder
Treble	5-2-10	27ľ"	G	1956	Mears & Stainbank
2	5-3-21	29"	F	1956	Mears & Stainbank
3	6-1-7	30"	E	1956	Mears & Stainbank
4	6-2-17	32"	D	1956	Mears & Stainbank
5	7-3-27	34"	C	1956	Mears & Stainbank
6	8-3-27	35"	B	1956	Mears & Stainbank
7	10-0-20	38"	A	1956	Mears & Stainbank
8	12-1-11	41"	G	1956	Mears & Stainbank
9	17-3-17	46"	F	1956	Mears & Stainbank
10	21-2-23	49"	E	1956	Mears & Stainbank
11	29-1-5	54"	D	1956	Mears & Stainbank
Tenor	41-3-21	61Ľ"	C	1956	Mears & Stainbank