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Thurnham
 

Thurnham, St Mary the Virgin


Photo: Richard Offen, 2005

  • 3 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 6 cwt approx. in B♭.
  • Grid Ref: TQ804576
  • Rung from: Ground Floor
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Maidstone
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Maidstone
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble D 1886 John Warner & Sons Never
® 2 C 1886 John Warner & Sons Never
® Tenor 6 cwt approx. B♭ 1886 John Warner & Sons Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Prior to 1886

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
1 of 33 cwt approx.28½"1650UnknownNeverRecast 1886
2 of 36 cwt approx.32"1650UnknownNeverRecast 1886
3 of 37½ cwt approx.34½"1586Lawrence WrightNeverRecast 1886

History

1586 Bell cast by Lawrence Wright. Henry Brockhill (mentioned in the inscription) was Lord of the Manor and patron of St Peter's, Aldington. The churches of Aldington and Thurnham were united 3 years earlier.
1798 Record of 3 bells in the tower. [1]
1886 The three bells were recast by John Warner & Sons.
1887 Stahlschmidt reported 3 bells were reported to be in a bad condition - one unused and two reported to be cracked. He considered the 2 trebles to be 17th Century bells. [2]
1973 Bells put into good ringing order by the Kent C.A.
2000 A kitchen & toilet was installed at the base of the tower without consideration for the ringing of the bells. All ringing had to therefore cease pending reroping of the bells.
[1] The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a small building, consisting of one isle and two chancels, having a low pointed steeple at the west end, in which hang three bells. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 5', Edward Hasted)
[2] All three bells in bad order - one unused, and two reported to be cracked - but I think a judicious overhauling would prove this not to be the case with more than one, if that. The two smaller bells are probably seventeenth century work. ("Church Bells of Kent", J C L Stahlschmidt, 1887)



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