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MEOPHAM, St John the Baptist

8 bells
Tenor 12-1-10 in F sharp
Grid Ref. TQ645662
Rochester District
Upstairs Ringing Room
PEALS

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

1

4-2-8

26

1949

Gillett & Johnston

2

4-2-20

27

1949

Gillett & Johnston

3

4-3-16

28¾"

1910

Mears & Stainbank

4

5-2-14

30¼"

1650

Michael Darbie

5

6-0-24

31¾"

1677

John & Christopher Hodson

6

7-1-9

34½"

1677

John & Christopher Hodson

7

9-0-8

36¾"

1651

Michael Darbie

8

12-1-10

41¾"

1679

Christopher Hodson

INSCRIPTIONS

1. TO THE GLORY OF GOD
PRESENTED BY MRS F. E. WORTHINGTON
EASTER 1949
VERNON S. NICHOLLS, VICAR

F. WORTHINGTON
H. E. RUFFELL

} CHURCHWARDENS

GILLETT & JOHNSON
FOUNDERS, CROYDON

2. TO THE GLORY OF GOD
PRESENTED BY MRS F. E. WORTHINGTON
EASTER 1949
VERNON S. NICHOLLS, VICAR

F. WORTHINGTON
H. E. RUFFELL

} CHURCHWARDENS

GILLETT & JOHNSON
FOUNDERS, CROYDON

3.

MEARS & STAINBANK LONDINI FECERUNT A.M.D.F.
IN MEMORIAM EDVARDI SEPTIMI
OMNIBUS GENTIBUS AMANTER VENERANDI SEPTEMBER 1910

4. I S R W ABackwardsN.jpg (750 bytes)THOBackwardsN.jpg (750 bytes)Y BARTLET MICHAEL DARBIE MADE ME 1650

 

5.  fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes)¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes)IOHN à AN à CHRISTOPHER à HODSON à MAIDE à ME à 1677 ¡ ¡ ¡
fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes) ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes)WILLIAM à SWIFT à FRANCIS à BRIGHTE à C à WARDENS fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes)

 

6. IOHN star.jpg (883 bytes) AN star.jpg (883 bytes) CHRISTOPHER star.jpg (883 bytes) HODSON star.jpg (883 bytes) MAIDE star.jpg (883 bytes) ME star.jpg (883 bytes) 1677 ¡ ¡ ¡
fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes) WILLIAM star.jpg (883 bytes) SWIFT star.jpg (883 bytes) FRANCIS star.jpg (883 bytes) BRIGHT star.jpg (883 bytes) C star.jpg (883 bytes) WARDENS ¡ ¡ ¡

 

7. MICHAEL DARBIE MADE ME 1651
                                          W R

 

8. fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes) CHRISTOPHER star.jpg (883 bytes) HODSON star.jpg (883 bytes) MADE star.jpg (883 bytes) ME star.jpg (883 bytes) 1679 fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes) ¡ ¡ ¡
WILLIAM star.jpg (883 bytes) SWIFT star.jpg (883 bytes) FRANCES star.jpg (883 bytes) BRIGHT star.jpg (883 bytes) CHVRCH star.jpg (883 bytes) WARDENS fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes) ¡ fleur_hodson.jpg (1187 bytes)

 

HISTORY

1382 An earthquake destroyed the two side aisles of the church.
1386 The side aisles were rebuilt by William Courtney, Archbishop of Canterbury.

1650

Treble (of 5) cast by Michael Darbie.

1651

4th (of 5) recast by Michael Darbie.

1677

2nd and 3rd (of 5) recast by John & Christopher Hodson.

1679

Tenor recast by Christopher Hodson. The Churchwarden at the time disputed the cost of the bell and was arrested.

1837 The height of the tower was raised by 20 feet.

1910

Bells rehung and treble added to make 6 by Mears & Stainbank.

1949

2 trebles added by Gillett & Johnston.