East Wickham

EAST WICKHAM
St Michael's Greek New Church

Photo DLC 2001

	1 bell and 3 disused bells on display on the floor
	Old tenor: 4cwt approx. in D sharp
	Grid Ref. TQ468177
	Lewisham District
	Open turret for one bell
	Retuning: Old bells skirted 1897
	Old bells formerly a chime in the adjacent "Old Church".

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

1

2½ cwt approx.

22¹/2"

G

1897

Samuel B. Goslin

2

2¾ cwt approx.

23¹/8"

F sharp

1660

John Hodson

3

4 cwt approx.

26"

D sharp

c.1400

Unknown

Service

3-3-17

27¹/8"

E

1932

Gillett & Johnston

INSCRIPTIONS

S. B. GOSLIN. LONDON 1897

IOHN à HODSON X MADE à ME

1660

? W

WARDEN

[uninscribed]

GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1932

Note that the ? on the 2nd was reckoned to be a "W" by Stahlschmidt, but it is not certain.

HISTORY

c.1100
Old church was built.

c.1400
Bell cast (tenor of 2).

1552
Record of 2 bells in the tower.

1660
Bell recast by John Hodson (treble of 2).

1854
Parish created. Formerly a chapelry in Plumstead.

1897
Present wooden bell turret erected and treble added to make 3 by Samuel Goslin. The old bells were skirted.

1932-33
New Church built by T.F. Ford. A tower was considered to hold the old bells, but was considered impractical. A new bell was cast and hung for swing chiming with a cast iron headstock & lever. The old bells were later taken down & kept in the old church.

c.1965
Old Church used by the Greek Holy Orthodox Church.

c.1995
Old Church made formally Redundant and officially handed over to the Orthodox. Ancient fittings transferred to the Parish Church, the bells being placed on display.

PHOTOGRAPHS

This is the Old Church. In this tower the chime of 3 used to hang. This is now used as a Greek Orthodox Church.

Here are the 3 bells now on display.

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder
1	2½ cwt approx.	22¹/2"	G	1897	Samuel B. Goslin
2	2¾ cwt approx.	23¹/8"	F sharp	1660	John Hodson
3	4 cwt approx.	26"	D sharp	c.1400	Unknown
Service	3-3-17	27¹/8"	E	1932	Gillett & Johnston

c.1100	Old church was built.
c.1400	Bell cast (tenor of 2).
1552	Record of 2 bells in the tower.
1660	Bell recast by John Hodson (treble of 2).
1854	Parish created. Formerly a chapelry in Plumstead.
1897	Present wooden bell turret erected and treble added to make 3 by Samuel Goslin. The old bells were skirted.
1932-33	New Church built by T.F. Ford. A tower was considered to hold the old bells, but was considered impractical. A new bell was cast and hung for swing chiming with a cast iron headstock & lever. The old bells were later taken down & kept in the old church.
c.1965	Old Church used by the Greek Holy Orthodox Church.
c.1995	Old Church made formally Redundant and officially handed over to the Orthodox. Ancient fittings transferred to the Parish Church, the bells being placed on display.