FORMER BELL

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Cast

Founder

Single Bell

5-0-17

1849

Charles & George Mears

HISTORY

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

Reports from "The Beckenham Journal and Penge and Sydenham Advertiser"

1st Sept 1876

THE NEW PEAL OF BELLS FOR PENGE CHURCH

To those inhabitants of Penge and others who interested themselves in the appeal made a few weeks ago from the Vicar of St John's Church, Penge, to obtain a peal of bells for that Church, it will be gratifying to learn that the contributors have so far advanced, that the ensuing work will probably see the bells swinging; and it is intended to ring the maiden peal on Saturday, September 2nd. As the Rev. D. McAnally will return on that day from his summer trip, it will make a pleasant greeting for him.

October 1876

NEW PEAL OF BELLS AT ST JOHN'S CHURCH PENGE

In June last a public meeting was held in Penge, with the object of raising funds for providing St John's Church with a peal of Bells. The idea was brought about by the gift by an anonymous donor of a public clock and a bell, which by anticipation was to form the tenor of the peal. With a grateful readiness to do their part, the parishioners said there was no time like the present, and going to work with a hearty good will, the entire cost of the peal (£360) was immediately raised. The contract was given to Messrs Warner & Sons, of Cripplegate, and now within three months the bells have been heard, and the verdict given, that they are highly effective, sweet, yet powerful, and in every way satisfactory. The dedication services were held on Sunday, September 3rd, in each case being preceded by the bells, which were again rung after the evening service. The ringers made a special visit from town, and well they performed their part, indeed their music was only equalled by the harmony with which the whole parish appeared to welcome "the permanent tenants of the steeple."

Special sermons in reference to the event were preached, that in the morning by the vicar, the Rev. D. McAnally, and that in the evening by the Rev. R. B. Stone, one of the curates. The service in the morning was remarkably well attended, and before the sermon, prayer was offered dedicating the bells to the honor and glory of God and to the service of His church. The vicar took for his text the 33rd verse of Exodux 28, confining his remarks to that part of the verse relating to the golden bells on the hem of the high priest's robe, and remarked that although the Mosaic dispensation with all its types had passed away, yet there were certain points of anaolgy in a spiritual sense between the golden bells spoken of in the text and church bells of the present day. The bells which had just been raised to their lofty nest in their own belfry tower, were not intended for the amusement fo the people but for a more solemn and religious use, a use which he trusted would always be connected with them long after he and his congregation had been gathered to their fathers. The reverend gentleman concluded with the prayer that solemn uses might always be connected with the bells of their beloved sanctuary.

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On Friday, the 15th ult., the Beckenham bell ringers rang a trial peal on the new bells which have just been placed in the belfry of Penge Church. The three Grances were gone through in a creditable manner, and the bells are said to be superior in tone to any in the district. We hear that the trial gave every satisfaction to the parishioners.