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Whitstable, St Alphege
 Photo: Benjamin Legg
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Details of the Bells |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
| ® | Treble | 1-0-7 | 15¼" | G | 1973 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | 2 | 1-0-15 | 15¾" | F♯ | 1973 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | 3 | 1-2-2 | 17" | E | 1975 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | 4 | 1-1-26 | 18" | D | 1969 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | 5 | 1-2-22 | 19" | C | 1969 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | 6 | 1-3-13 | 20" | B | 1969 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | 7 | 2-1-15 | 22" | A | 1969 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never | |
| ® | Tenor | 3-1-13 | 24" | G | 1969 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Flat | Never |
Bellframes |
| Position |
Frame | Bells | Year | Maker | Material | Truss(es) | Local Layout | Resultant Layout | ||
| Single level | 1 | 1,2,3,6,7,8 | 1969 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Steel |
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6.4 |
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| Single level | 1.1 | 4,5 | 1973 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry | Steel |
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2.X2 |
8.1 |
Inscriptions |
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How the bells are tuned |
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Earlier Tubular Bells |
| Bell | Weight | Date | Founder | Fate | |
| 1 | 0-2-7 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 2 | 0-2-1 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 3 | 0-2-12 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 4 | 0-2-26 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 5 | 0-3-7 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 6 | 0-3-27 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 7 | 1-0-1 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 | |
| 8 | 1-1-11 | 1920 | Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry | Disposed of in 1968 |
Recast in 1975 |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
| 3rd (of 8) | 1-1-6 | 17" | 1969 | Whitechapel | Never | Recast 1975 |
Prior to 1968 |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | (Supplied weight) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
| Single bell | 12-2-17 | 12-2-23 | 42" | F♯ | 1845 | Charles & George Mears | Never | Scrapped 1968 |
History |
| 1560 | Bells from the old church stolen by Mayor Lynche of Sandwich! | ||
| 1592 | Bell cast for the old church by Robert Mot of Whitechapel (rehung by Whitechapel in 1967). | ||
| 1665 | 5th cast for St Andrew, Toddington, Norfolk by Robert Gurney. | ||
| 1755 | 2nd, 3rd and 4th cast for St Andrew, Toddington, Norfolk by Lester & Pack. | ||
| 1845 | A new church was built and a bell, weighing 12-2-17, was cast by C. & G. Mears. This bell was later given to the new church. The church was consecrated by Archbishop Howley on 9th Oct. [1] | ||
| 1846 | The nave of the old church was demolished. The bell was rehung in the chancel turret. | ||
| 1851 | Treble cast for St Andrew, Toddington, Norfolk by John Taylor. | ||
| 1920 | A set of 8 tubular bells, cast by Messrs Harrington, Holland & Co of Coventry was given to the church by Mr & Mrs Alfred Nicholls of Stocksfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne as a private War Memorial. (Treble 0-2-7; tenor 1-1-11; whole installation:7-0-13). [2] [3] [4] | ||
| 1939 | The tubular bells were overhauled. [5] | ||
| 1942 | The church of St Andrew, Toddington, Norfolk was closed and the bells removed. | ||
| 1947 | Tubular bells restored by Mrs M. Burrough as a memorial to her son who was killed in action in 1943. | ||
| 1968 | The tubular bells and the larger bell were removed and sold, the proceeds of which helped to pay for the installation of six new ringing bells. | ||
| 1969 | 5 smaller bells were brought from Tottington, Norfolk on 31st January. A new ring of 6 was cast from the metal of these bells at Whitechapel (on 23rd April) and the new ring of six was dedicated by the Bishop of Dover on 21st September. | ||
| 1973 | 2 trebles added to make 8 by Whitechapel. | ||
| 1974 | New bells dedicated by the Archdeacon of Canterbury on 6th Jan. | ||
| 1975 | The 3rd was replaced with a bell 24 lbs heavier, cast at Whitechapel, dedicated by the Rev'd David Cawley on 31st January, 1976. |
| [1] | CONSECRATION OF SEASALTER CHURCH, WHITSTABLE. On Thursday this very gratifying ceremony was performed by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. (Kentish Gazette, Tues 14 Oct 1845) |
| [2] | MUNIFICENT GIFT TO ST. ALPHEGE CHURCH.- The townspeople were pleased to hear of the presentation of tubular bells to St Alphege by a native of Whitstable, Mr Alfred Nicholls J.P., of Whins, Stocksfield-on-Tyne, and Mrs. Nicholls. Mr Nicholls felt he would like to do something for his native town and in memory of the local men who fell in the War, and a more useful gift he could not have thought of, for St. Alphege has always been in need of a set of bells. We feel sure this munificent gift by Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls will be greatly appreciated by the town. (Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Sat 23 Oct 1920) |
| [3] | MEMORIAL SERVICE ON ARMISTICE DAY AT S. ALPHEGE CHURCH. PEAL OF TUBULAR BELLS TO BE DEDICATED BY ARCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. There will again be a United Memorial Service on Armistice Day at 3 p.m. in St. Alphege Church, and this year it will be combined with a dedication service at which the peal of tubular bells will be dedicated and a tablet in the church porch unveiled. The Venerable L. J. White-Thomson, M.A., Archdeacon of Canterbury, will perform the ceremony, The Council and all public bodies have been invited. There will be a gathering in the Parish Hall afterwards to thank Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Nicholls, who are giving the bells to the parish. (Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Sat 6 Nov 1920) |
| [4] | The new bells were dedicated on Armistice Day (11 Nov) 1920 by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, the Ven L J White-Thomson. (Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Sat 13 Nov 1920) |
| [5] | It is pleasing for the Council to be able to report that the renovation of the tubular bells was completed in time for the Easter Festival. The work has been carried out at a total cost of £2 only against an estimate of £30. The Council is grateful to the several workers in this direction (Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Sat 4 Mar 1939) |
Articles
Gallery |
The old "Great Bell" of Seasalter being dismantled in August 1968. Photo: David Cawley. 1968 |
The new ring of 6 bells at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, July 1969. Photo: David Cawley. 1968 |
Whitechapel bellhanger, Philip Jakeman (with his son Stephen) with the smallest bells he ever hung for ringing - in his own tower in Whitstable! Photo: David Cawley. 1968 |
The Tottington bells leave Norfolk for ever on31st January, 1969, to be recast into the back 5 at St Alphege. Photo: David Cawley |
The belfry |
Photo: Joe Aust, Jun 2022 |
Photo: Joe Aust, Jun 2022 |
Photo: Joe Aust, Jun 2022 |
Elsewhere in the Parish |
| Whitstable, The Two Brewers Formerly 8 bells, 2 cwt approx., hung as fixed chime |
| Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 21 October 2020 |
