The Church Bells of the City of London

ST STEPHEN, Coleman Street

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Formerly 8 ringing Bells and clock bell hung dead from the top of the wooden spire.
Tenor: 14 cwt approx. in F sharp
Church demolished after bombing in 1941
Upstairs Ringing Room

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Note

Cast

 Founder

Treble

 24½" F sharp

1693

 James Bartlett

2

 26" E sharp 1693 James Bartlett

3

 28" D sharp 1693 James Bartlett

4

 29½" C sharp 1722 John Waylett

5

 32¾" B 1693 James Bartlett

6

 34¾" A sharp 1693 James Bartlett

7

 38" G sharp 1722 John Waylett

Tenor

 14 cwt approx. 43" F sharp 1833 Thomas Mears II

Clock Bell

 23" 1672 Anthony Bartlett

INSCRIPTIONS
1.

THOMAS RYMILL IAMES FRENCH CHVRCH WARDENS 1693. I.

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2.

THOMAS RYMILL IAMES FRENCH CHVRCH WARDENS 1693. I

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3.

THOMAS RYMILL IAMES FRENCH CHVRCH WARDENS 1693. I.

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4. GEO" : BRAY BEN" : DAWES CHVRCH WARDENS. J722. I.W.wpe2.jpg (682 bytes) FECT wpe2.jpg (682 bytes)

5.

THOMAS RYMILL IAMES FRENCH CHVRCH WARDENS 1693. I.

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6.

THOMAS RYMILL IAMES FRENCH CHVRCH WARDENS 1693. I.

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7. THOS MITCHELL WM : HOPKINS GEO.wpe3.jpg (678 bytes) CLARKE THO. wpe4.jpg (678 bytes) DENNY OVERSEC RS. J72J. I wpe5.jpg (726 bytes) W wpe6.jpg (726 bytes) FECIT wpe7.jpg (724 bytes)

8. T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT. 1833.

C. IOHN ABBOTT IOHN PAYNE CHVRCHWARDENS 1672 E (foundry stamp) P

HISTORY

12th Cent

Church built.

1466

An inventory states "Item j howsling bell wt j lytyll bell to hong in the stepyl on ye dedleacon".

c.1530s

According to tradition, the bells of the Priory of the Holy Trinity, Aldgate, were divided at the Dissolution between this church and Stepney, five being sent here.

1542

No mention of bells in the inventory of this year.

1552

Record of 5 bells and a sanctus bell ("v belles and a sawnce bell").

1666

Church destroyed in the Great Fire.

1672

Clock bell cast.

1674-81

Church rebuilt by Wren with a north west steeple consisting of a stone tower, lead covered lantern with a small spire crowned by a golden vane in the form of a cock. The tower was about 65 feet high with a lantern of about 20 feet. The clock bell hung dead at the top of the wooden erection on top of the tower.

1693

Ring of 8 bells cast by James Bartlett.

1708

Record of 8 bells.

1721

7th recast.

1722

4th recast.

1809

10th Jan

T Mears & Son gave an estimate "to recast the old eight into a new ring of eight (13 cwt) with mainly new fittings in the old frame (price £245.8s).

1824

Record of "six" bells (this must be a mistake).

1833

Tenor recast.

1916

Bells overhauled and put into ringing order by John Warner & Sons.

1940

29th Dec

Church bombed and destroyed. The site was sold.

1954

Parish united with that of St Margaret, Lothbury.