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St Mary Cray
 

St Mary Cray, St Mary

  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 11-3-21 in G.
  • Grid Ref: TQ472684
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1913 Gillett & Johnson, made from iron & steel
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Lewisham
  • Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 3-3-626⅛" E 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2803) Flat Never
® 2 4-1-1428" D 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2804) Flat Never
® 3 5-3-1731¼" C 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2805) Flat Never
® 4 7-0-2433" B 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2806) Flat Never
® 5 8-2-1935⅞" A 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2807) Flat Never
® Tenor 11-3-2140⅛" G 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2808) Flat Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1913 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon Cast iron
8.3.C.e
 6.1

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Earlier ring of bells
Bell DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 5)31½"1583Robert MotNeverRecast 1913
2 (of 5)33"1583Robert MotNeverRecast 1913
3 (of 5)35"1655John HodsonNeverRecast 1913
4 (of 5)35"1655John HodsonNeverRecast 1913
Tenor (of 5)42½"1655John HodsonNeverRecast 1913

History
1552 Record of 5 bells. [1]
1583 Front 2 bells recast by Robert Mot.
1655 Back 3 bells recast by John Hodson.
1867 Originally a chapelry within Orpington Parish, a separate parish was created in this year.
1882 Bells rehung by Gillett & Co.
1913 Bells recast and augmented to 6 and hung in a new frame by Gillett & Johnston.
[1] Item v bells suted in the steple and a saincts bell of brasse. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)

Recent Peals
The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
2023-03-095040 Surprise Minor (10m)
2021-12-215040 Minor (7m)
2020-01-185040 Plain Bob Minor
2019-10-275040 Minor (10m)
2017-03-095040 Spliced Delight Minor (28m)
2015-01-105040 Surprise Minor
2014-03-165040 Spliced Surprise Minor (5m)
2014-01-055040 Minor (3 Methods)
2007-11-175040 Surprise Minor (7 Methods)
2007-06-095040 Spliced Plain Minor (16 methods)
2005-09-045040 Spliced Surprise Minor (36m atw)
2004-09-195040 Minor (7 methods)
2001-07-075040 Surprise Minor
1999-11-275040 Surprise Minor (7m)
1999-10-105040 Surprise Minor (41m)
1999-07-315040 Surprise Minor (41m)
1999-03-065040 Spliced Doubles and Minor (7m)
1999-02-215040 Surprise Minor (41m)
1996-07-065040 Surprise Minor (7m)
1995-12-185040 Surprise Minor (7m)
1992-09-035040 Surprise Minor (7m)
1991-04-215040 Surprise Minor (7m)
1990-12-275040 Surprise Minor
1990-11-175040 Minor (2m)
1987-07-195040 Minor
Recent Quarter Peals
The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
2023-06-091260 Plain Bob Minor
2023-05-061260 Doubles (4m)
2023-04-221260 Doubles (3m)
2023-01-251260 Plain Bob Minor
2023-01-081260 Minor (2m)
2022-12-181260 Doubles (2m)
2022-09-151260 Grandsire Doubles
2022-09-101270 Doubles (2m)
2022-06-041270 Grandsire Doubles
2022-03-201320 Spliced Surprise Minor (2m)
2021-12-191260 Grandsire Doubles
2021-09-171296 College Bob IV Delight Minor
2019-12-221260 Grandsire Doubles
2019-05-161260 Plain Bob Doubles
2019-03-261272 Carlisle Surprise Minor
2019-02-241280 Plain Bob Doubles
2018-07-101296 Spliced Surprise Minor (2m)
2018-03-111260 Doubles (2 Methods)
2018-02-131320 Paddington Surprise Minor
2017-12-121320 Surprise Minor (2m)
2017-10-241274 Surprise Minor (2m)
2017-09-201320 Plain Bob Doubles
2017-02-131320 Cambridge Surprise Minor
2016-10-141260 Doubles (2 Methods)
2016-07-301260 Doubles (2 Methods)
Full list of peals on Bellboard here
 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 1 April 2016