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Kemsing
 

Kemsing, St Mary the Virgin


Photo: Dickon Love

  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 4-1-5 in D.
  • Grid Ref: TQ556588
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Ground Floor
  • Frame: 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Tonbridge
  • 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 1-2-2220" B 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 2 1-3-1721" A 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 3 2-0-2522" G 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 4 2-1-2123" F♯ 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 5 3-1-1125⅜" E 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® Tenor 4-1-528" D 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
Service Bell 5-3-2534½" A William Wakefield Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Position
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Lower tier 1 Ring of 6 1991 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Steel

Upper tier 2 Service Timber

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Prior to 1991

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 3)5-1-26c.31"C♯1891John Taylor & Co.NeverRecast 1991
2nd (of 3)6-3-8c.32"B1891John Taylor & Co.NeverRecast 1991

Prior to 1891

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 2)6-1-732"1395-1420William WodewardeNeverRecast 1891

History

1395 -1429 Bell cast by William Wodewarde (eventual treble of 2).
1616 -1632 Bell cast by William Wakefield. While it was lighter than the other bell, its pitch made it the tenor of the two.
1826 Treble (of 2) repaired as it was cracked (but not recast).
1891 Treble (of 2) recast by John Taylor and another treble was added to make 3.
1991 8th Aug. 6 new bells were cast at Whitechapel on 8 Aug using the metal of the previous treble and second plus additional metal. The old tenor was rehung independently as a service bell. They were first rung on 29th Aug and dedicated on 22 Sept.

Articles

  • "Six bells and a band for Kemsing", Lewis, Catherine M (The Ringing World) 25 October 1991


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