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CITY OF CANTERBURY
St Mary Magdalene

Formerly 3 bells
Tenor 6¼ cwt approx.
Canterbury District
Frame: 1505
Never subsequently retuned
Upstairs ringing room
Church closed 1866 and demolished 1871 leaving the tower.
Bells transferred to:
1 to St George the Martyr, Canterbury,
2 & 3 to Madagascar

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Cast

Founder

Transferred

1

4½ cwt approx.

28½"

1616

Joseph Hatch

1871 to St George's

2

5½ cwt approx.

30½"

c. 1450

John Sturdy

1871 to Madagascar

3

6¼ cwt approx. 32"

c. 1420

Richard Hille 1871 to Madagascar

INSCRIPTIONS

1 ioseph hatch made me 1616
2 + Sancte Petre Ora Pro Nobis + I O S
3
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Sancta Katerina Ora Pro Nobis

Fig20.jpg (1458 bytes)Fig19.jpg (1286 bytes)

HISTORY

c. 1420

Bell cast by Richard Hille.

c. 1450

Bell cast by John Sturdy.

1503

The present tower was rebuilt. It is probably that the bells were rehung in the present frame at that time. They swung side by side and were roped "opposed", being rung from the first floor.

1616

The treble was recast by Joseph Hatch.

1866

Church closed.

1871

Church pulled down with only the tower remaining. The bell frame is still in situ. The bells were sold: treble to St George and 2 & 3 to the Bishop of Madagascar (in whose diocese they now ring). The parish merged with that of St George.

1942

1st Jun

The old treble was destroyed along with the church of St George the Martyr during an air raid.

THE DESTRUCTION OF A CHURCH

1866 DLC collection

Photo 1971 DLC collection
The church as it appeared in 1866, the year it was closed. The church was pulled down in 1871 leaving only the tower. The Roman Catholic Church of St Thomas was built behind it. This picture was taken 100 years later in 1971.

THE FRAME

These drawings were made by David Cawley in June, 1965.
Elevations
DLC 1965 East and West Ends

 

 

 

North and South Ends and interpieces
N.B. Brace
a b left out in South End.

Plan of Tower
DLC 1965  

Former Newell stair