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Canterbury, St Stephen

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 10-1-26 in A♭.
  • Grid Ref: TR148591
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1902 Mears & Stainbank, made of timber
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Canterbury
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Canterbury
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(As received 1971)		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 3-1-73-2-924⅜" A♭ 1844 Charles & George Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 2 3-1-143-2-624¹³⁄₁₆" G 1844 Charles & George Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 3 4-1-027⅛" F 1971 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 4 5-1-145-2-2027¼" E♭ 1746 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 5 5-0-35-1-1330¾" D♭ 1902 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 6 6-0-1431¹⁵⁄₁₆" C 1971 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 7 8-2-149-0-835⅝" B♭ 1746 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® Tenor 10-1-2610-3-038¹⁵⁄₁₆" A♭ 1746 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1971 Whitechapel

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1902 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel

The former Catlin bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)		DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
3rd27¼"1746Robert CatlinNever
5th6-0-2331"1746Robert CatlinNever
6th31¹⁵⁄₁₆"1746Robert CatlinNever

History
1746 Ring of six cast by Robert Catlin.
1844 Ring augmented to 8 with 2 trebles hung in the spire from Charles and George Mears.
1902 5th recast and bells rehung by Mears & Stainbank in a new frame.
1938 Tower restored and made safe for the bells to be rung again.
1971 Bells retuned (by Richard Offen), rehung; 3rd and 6th recast by Whitechapel. New upstairs ringing room constructed. The dismantling and rehanging was done by the KCACR under the direction of Harry Parkes.
1992 2 clappers renewed by Whitechapel.

Articles

  • "St Stephen's, Canterbury, Kent", Cawley, David L (The Ringing World) 11 February 1972
    		•

    Gallery

    The KCACR Removal Gang directed by Harry Parkes prepare to roll the tenor out. Left-Right: David Cawley, Harry Parkes (with Peter Niblett's head), Don Niblett, Desmond Mitchell and a happy looking Ruth Niblett. Richard Offen tuned the bells at Whitechapel
    Photo: David Cawley collection, Dec 1970

    Peal Boards
    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1977
    07 Jun 1977: 5056 Plain Bob Major (Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.)

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1909
    30 Jan 1909: 5024 Double Norwich CB Major

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1910
    29 Jan 1910: 10080 Double Norwich CB Major

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1907
    05 Mar 1907: 5040 Stedman Triples

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Recent Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2022-06-055040 Doubles (7m)
    2014-11-155024 Double Norwich Court Bob Major
    2011-06-255088 Ardleigh Surprise Major
    2009-12-285120 Superlative Surprise Major
    2008-10-305088 Spliced Surprise Major
    2008-03-015056 Kent Treble Bob Major
    2005-01-155024 Adelaide Surprise Major
    2003-12-305152 Spliced Surprise Major (23m)
    1986-07-055120 London Surprise Major
    1981-10-315040 Plain Bob Major
    1910-01-2910080 Double Norwich Court Bob Major
    1901-04-095056 Superlative Surprise Major
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-09-101260 Doubles (8m/p)
    2023-09-031260 Doubles (5p/m)
    2023-08-271260 Doubles (3m)
    2023-08-131260 Doubles (11m/v)
    2023-08-061260 Doubles (3m/p)
    2023-08-051260 Spliced Minor (5m)
    2023-07-301260 Doubles (6m/p)
    2023-07-231260 Doubles (4m/p)
    2023-07-091260 Doubles (3m/p)
    2023-07-021260 Doubles (3m/p)
    2023-06-251260 Doubles (4m/p)
    2023-06-181260 Doubles (5m)
    2023-06-111260 Doubles (6m/v/p)
    2023-06-041260 Spliced Doubles (5m)
    2023-05-281260 Doubles (5m/v)
    2023-05-211260 Doubles (6m/p)
    2023-05-141260 Doubles (7m/v)
    2023-04-301260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-04-161260 Doubles (6m/v/p)
    2023-04-021260 Doubles (4m/v)
    2023-03-261260 Doubles (7m/v)
    2023-03-121260 Doubles (11m/v/p)
    2023-03-051260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-02-121260 Doubles (11m/v/p)
    2023-02-051260 Doubles (7m/v)
    Full list of peals on Bellboard here
    		 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

    Elsewhere in the Parish
    Canterbury, Old St Stephen's School
    Single bell hung for swing chiming with lever in open gable

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