Burham New Church

BURHAM, St Mary (New Church)

	Formerly 3 bells
	Tenor 3˝ cwt approx. in E flat (heaviest bell: 4ž cwt approx.)
	Maidstone District
	Frame: Partly mediaeval, adapted 1632, 1821 and 1881.
	Retuning: Never subsequently retuned
	Upstairs Ringing Room
	Bells originally from the Old Church
	Church demolished 1981 and bells dispersed to: St Mildred, Preston; St Michael & All Angels, Maidstone, and one stolen.

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Note

Cast
Founder

1

3ž cwt approx.
25"
F

1700

Richard Phelps

2

4ž cwt approx.
29"
E

1734

Richard Phelps

3

3˝ cwt approx.
25ź"
E flat

c. 1300

Richard de Wimbis

The tenor was probably the lightest of the three and fully 3ž" smaller than the second. It had been heavily skirted to raise its strike note, which was presumably originally D. The tall shape and thin profile of this 14th century bell were different from its 18th century companions.

INSCRIPTIONS

RICHARD PHELPS FECIT 1700 W

RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME J734

x RICHARD

WYMBIS

FECIT

BELL FRAME

The bell frame consisted of mediaeval sills, centre-posts and straight braces and was designed for three bells hanging side by side. It bore the following on its east head:

1632 : F T . R D . T V
E L T . P (carved crest) F K
1821

The tenor pit had the following letters:

I D

and other obliterated.

HISTORY

c. 1300

Bell cast by Richard de Wimbis.

1700

Bell cast by Richard Phelps.

1734

Bell cast by Richard Phelps.

1881

Church built and 3 bells, ancient frame and fittings were transferred from the Old Church.

1974

The installation had fallen into a terrible state, the bells were taken down, 2 placed on the belfry floor and the c.1300 bell rehung in new fittings for swing chiming by Whitechapel.

1978

Following structural failure, the church was closed.

1981

Church demolished after being declared unsafe. The frame was destroyed and the bells taken out of the tower by the KCACR for storage in the new church. The Wimbis bell was stolen.

1982

The 1734 bell was transferred to St Michael & All Angels, Maidstone as a clock bell.

1983

The 1700 bell was transferred to St Mildred, Preston-next-Wingham as a treble to augment the 5 to 6.

PHOTOGRAPHS

The interior of the tower in 1970: bells in order 1-3-2. The three bells hung in a part-mediaeval frame with fittings of c.1632 moved lock, stock and barrel (look at the stay on the second) from the Old Church. The bell nearest the cameria is now the treble at Preston-next-Wingham. The largest bell hangs at St Michael & All Angels, Maidstone as a clock bell.

Here are a series of photographs of the treble bell being removed from the tower in 1981. The work was done by members of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers (David Cawley, David Joyce, Richard Offen, Sean Smith).

By the afternoon, the treble was in Dover (in storage for Preston), the "tenor" in St Michael & All Angels, Maidstone, and the middle size bell (the actual tenor) plus the font (the KCACR will turn its hand to anything!) in the Old Church.

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Note	Cast	Founder
1	3ž cwt approx.	25"	F	1700	Richard Phelps
2	4ž cwt approx.	29"	E	1734	Richard Phelps
3	3˝ cwt approx.	25ź"	E flat	c. 1300	Richard de Wimbis

c. 1300	Bell cast by Richard de Wimbis.
1700	Bell cast by Richard Phelps.
1734	Bell cast by Richard Phelps.
1881	Church built and 3 bells, ancient frame and fittings were transferred from the Old Church.
1974	The installation had fallen into a terrible state, the bells were taken down, 2 placed on the belfry floor and the c.1300 bell rehung in new fittings for swing chiming by Whitechapel.
1978	Following structural failure, the church was closed.
1981	Church demolished after being declared unsafe. The frame was destroyed and the bells taken out of the tower by the KCACR for storage in the new church. The Wimbis bell was stolen.
1982	The 1734 bell was transferred to St Michael & All Angels, Maidstone as a clock bell.
1983	The 1700 bell was transferred to St Mildred, Preston-next-Wingham as a treble to augment the 5 to 6.