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Chart Sutton
 

Chart Sutton, St Michael


Photo: Dickon Love, 19 Jul 2013

  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 14-2-16 in E.
  • Grid Ref: TQ804494
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • 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: 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 6-1-2032" C♯ 1783 Chapman & Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1967 Whitechapel
® 2 7-1-2434½" B 1783 Chapman & Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1967 Whitechapel
® 3 7-3-1936" A 1783 Chapman & Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1967 Whitechapel
® 4 8-2-538½" G♯ 1783 Chapman & Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1967 Whitechapel
® 5 11-2-1042½" F♯ 1783 Chapman & Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1967 Whitechapel
® Tenor 14-2-1645" E 1783 Chapman & Mears, Whitechapel Removed 1967 Whitechapel

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1783 Timber
6.7

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

History

1783 Present ring of six bells cast and installed in a new timber frame.
1798 The church had a spire which was destroyed in a lightning storm that also destroyed the bells. Hasted says it was "about seven o'clock in the morning, when in a dreadful storm of thunder, the lightning set fire to the beautiful spire steeple of it, and in about three hours time burnt that and the whole building to ashes, excepting the bare walls." He did not mention how many bells were in the tower at the time. [1]
1913 Bells rehung by Alfred Bowell on new headstocks in the existing frame. [2]
1967 Bells tuned, quarter turned and rehung by Whitechapel who strengthened the frame.
[1] This church has been twice set on fire by lightning: the first time, a few years ago, when it was fortunately soon extinguished; the last time was on April 23, 1779, about seven o'clock in the morning, when in a dreadful storm of thunder, the lightning set fire to the beautiful spire steeple of it, and in about three hours time burnt that and the whole building to ashes, excepting the bare walls; since which it has been rebuilt from a plan of Mr. Henry Holland, junior, architect, at the cost of more than 1,300l. collected by a brief throughout the county from house to house, and a liberal contribution made by the neighbouring gentry and clergy. ("The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 5", Edward Hasted, 1798)
[2] To rehanging the six bells £65. To 6 new best bell ropes @ 13/6 each. £4-1-0. To 2 new clappers £1 Total £70-1-0. Paid cq. on a/c 21 Mar 1914 £50. cq. 3 Sept 1914 £20-1-0. (Bowell records, 21 Mar 1914)

Gallery


1st stage chamber with clock case.
Photo:

The belfry.
Photo: Dickon Love, 19 Jul 2013

The belfry.
Photo: Dickon Love, 19 Jul 2013

Photo on the wall of the church of the bells outside the church in 1967.
Photo: Chart Sutton church.

The tenor
Photo: Dickon Love, 19 Jul 2013


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