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STODMARSH, St Mary

Photo RCO 2007

 

2 bells, 3 cwt approx. (although the treble is 3½ cwt)
Grid Ref. TR227602
Never subsequently retuned.
Canterbury District
Hung for swing chiming with levers

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

1

3½ cwt approx.

25⅝"

16th Cent

Robert Doddes or Thomas Kempe

2

 3 cwt approx.

23⅜"

13th Cent

Unknown

1. A        BOVE  ALL  THINGES  LOVE  GOD
 
2.
 
The inscriptions are taken from Ranald Clouston's notes in 1969, and differ from Stahlschmidt, who says "ANELP EICARG AIRAM AVE", which is "Ave Maria Gracie Plena" backwards.  However this doesn't reconcile with Clouston.  This tenor inscription appears on the shoulder of the bell.

HISTORY

13th Cent Present tenor cast, founder unknown.
16th Cent Current treble cast. The founder is unknown, but probably Robert Doddes or Thomas Kempe.
1758 Rev'd Bryan Faussett wrote:
This Church is small, and consists only of The Chancell and Body. The Steeple which has a low wooden Spire, is at the West End. In it hang 2 Small Bells. I could not get at them, to read their Inscriptions, if they had any.
1887 Stahlschmidt wrote, but see 1969 below:
The smaller bell is a curious specimen of early bellfounding, the lettering being place on the shoulder angle. It is probably earlier than 1300. The larger bell is probably of Elizabethan date.
1969 Bells inspected by Ranald Clouston and David Cawley.  They confirmed that the larger bell actually had a higher note, and therefore represents the treble.  They noted that ropes were attached to wooden levers, hung in a timber frame over the west end.  There was no floor immediately below the bells.
1982 Bells rehung for swing chiming with levers by Whitechapel.