Bickley

BICKLEY, St George

Photo not yet available.

	8 bells
	Tenor 14-1-9 in F sharp
	Grid Ref. TQ426690
	Lewisham District
	Frame: 1991 Whitechapel
	Retuning: Never subsequently retuned
	Open Gallery
	PEALS
	Ż SOUND CLIP (Dickon Love, 1st April 2004; 18.2s)

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Name*

Weight

Diameter

Cast

Founder

1

ANTHONY

4-0-19

26"

1993

Whitechapel

2

PHILIP

4-0-20

26¹⁵/16"

1993

Whitechapel

3

GABRIEL

4-2-14

28"

1991

Whitechapel

4

HUGH

5-2-13

30¹/2"

1991

Whitechapel

5

AUGUSTINE

6-2-22

32¹/2"

1991

Whitechapel

6

MARY MAGDALENE

7-1-26

34"

1991

Whitechapel

7

MICHAEL

10-1-11

38"

1991

Whitechapel

8

GEORGE

14-1-9

42¹/2"

1991

Whitechapel

* The names of the bells are not inscribed upon them.

INSCRIPTIONS

1.
	LEWISHAM DISTRICT CENTENARY 1992 CAST IN MEMORY OF PHILIP CORBY PHILIP IRWIN MICHAEL SANDERSON	19	93
		WHITECHAPEL
2.
	LEWISHAM DISTRICT CENTENARY 1992 CAST IN MEMORY OF PHILIP CORBY PHILIP IRWIN MICHAEL SANDERSON	19	93
		WHITECHAPEL
3.
	"COME RING OUT OUR JOY TO THE LORD" PHYLLIS GOFF 1904 - 1990	19	91
		WHITECHAPEL
4.
		19	91
		WHITECHAPEL
5.
		19	91
		WHITECHAPEL
6.
		19	91
		WHITECHAPEL
7.
		19	91
		WHITECHAPEL
8.
		19	91
		WHITECHAPEL

HISTORY

1861

The parish of St George, Bickley was created from that of Ss Peter & Paul, Bromley.

1863-5

Church constructed by F. Barnes with a spire reaching 175 feet.

1864

John Warner cast a bell for the new church.

1900
Chime of 5 bells cast and hung to be chimed by the clock by Gillett & Johnston.

1905-6

Church rebuilt by Newton as the Caen stone suffered substantial deterioration. The reconstructed spire was consequently not quite as high.

1944

18th June

A flying bomb detonated across the road from the church destroying the windows and most of the roof. The church was out of commission for 2 years.

1989

6th April

The church was affected by a fire which started in the (newly rewired) organ which used to sit under the tower. It didn't destroy the bells, but they were removed from the tower by the KCACR and smashed up.

1991

New ring of six installed in the tower in an 8-bell frame.

1991

21st Dec.

Church rededicated by the Bishop of Rochester.

1993

2 trebles added by Whitechapel.

DETAILS OF THE CHIME OF 5 DESTROYED IN 1989

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

1

4-2-18
28"
1900

Gillett & Johnston

2

5-3-0
30"
1900

Gillett & Johnston

3

6-3-16

32

1900

Gillett & Johnston

4

9-3-25

39˝"

1900

Gillett & Johnston

5

14-2-0

44"

1900

Gillett & Johnston

1.
	LORD THROUGH THIS HOUR
2.
	BE THOU OUR GUIDE
3.
	SO BY THY POWER
4.
	NO FOOT SHALL SLIDE
5.
	TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF FREDERICK CHALMERS THIS CLOCK IS DEDICATED MDCCCC WATCH YE THEREFORE & PRAY ALWAYS

These inscriptions come from the Gillett & Johnston Order Book. It is not clear whether the inscriptions on 1-4 were on the waist as suggested above, or in the inscription band. It is also assumed that the phrase "CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON. 1900" appears on each of these bells somewhere.

DETAILS OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH BELL

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

Single bell

4 cwt approx.

25˝" approx.

1864

John Warner & Sons

JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1864

PHOTOGRAPHS

	Photographs of the church prior to the reconstruction of the spire in 1905/6.

Treble (above). 2nd (right).


3rd	4th


5th	6th


7th	Tenor

Bell	Name*	Weight	Diameter	Cast	Founder
1	ANTHONY	4-0-19	26"	1993	Whitechapel
2	PHILIP	4-0-20	26¹⁵/16"	1993	Whitechapel
3	GABRIEL	4-2-14	28"	1991	Whitechapel
4	HUGH	5-2-13	30¹/2"	1991	Whitechapel
5	AUGUSTINE	6-2-22	32¹/2"	1991	Whitechapel
6	MARY MAGDALENE	7-1-26	34"	1991	Whitechapel
7	MICHAEL	10-1-11	38"	1991	Whitechapel
8	GEORGE	14-1-9	42¹/2"	1991	Whitechapel
* The names of the bells are not inscribed upon them.

1861		The parish of St George, Bickley was created from that of Ss Peter & Paul, Bromley.
1863-5		Church constructed by F. Barnes with a spire reaching 175 feet.
1864		John Warner cast a bell for the new church.
1900		Chime of 5 bells cast and hung to be chimed by the clock by Gillett & Johnston.
1905-6		Church rebuilt by Newton as the Caen stone suffered substantial deterioration. The reconstructed spire was consequently not quite as high.
1944	18th June	A flying bomb detonated across the road from the church destroying the windows and most of the roof. The church was out of commission for 2 years.
1989	6th April	The church was affected by a fire which started in the (newly rewired) organ which used to sit under the tower. It didn't destroy the bells, but they were removed from the tower by the KCACR and smashed up.
1991		New ring of six installed in the tower in an 8-bell frame.
1991	21st Dec.	Church rededicated by the Bishop of Rochester.
1993		2 trebles added by Whitechapel.