The Church Bells Of Bedfordshire

Compared with the Lincolnshire churches, upon whose bells I had the honour of saying a few words before this Institute last year, the belfries of Bedfordshire are well supplied with music.In Lincolnshire, out of 683 churches, there are no fewer than 502 with only three bells or less ; the large number of 248 (or more than one-third of the whole number in that county) possessing only one ; whilst in Bedfordshire, with about 130 churches-47 of which have only three bells or less-there are only about twenty (ancl most of those modern ones) in which only one bell is found.When John Mair, the Scotch historian, remarking upon the vast number of bells of England, and describing the delight with which he listened, when studying at Cambridge, to their melody upon the Great Festivals, said, " Not a village of forty houses you see without five bells of the sweetest tones he might have been describing this county, for five is here the favourite number, there being forty-seven churches, or more than one-third of the whole, with that very pleasant number in their belfries.Unfortunately, there are but few documents known to exist to which we can refer for information about the church bells of Bedfordshire at, or before, the Reformation.Of the results of the Commission-so far as regards Bedfordshireissued in the second year of Edward the Sixth, to enquire into the quantity and value of Church furniture and ornaments throughout England we know nothing, and of that " ffor the survey of all Colledges, ffrechapells, Chauntries, ffraternyties, Brotherhoods, Guy Ids," &c., within the County of Bedford, we know little beyond the names of the Commissioners and the returns from two Chauntries.The Commissioners, who at that time acted for Bedfordshire, were Sir John St

Archaeology · Business · Historical Art and Culture Studies · Historical Studies of British Isles · History · Scottish History and National Identity

• English Bellfounders, 1150–1893

  R C Hope•Archaeological Journal•1893

  Add to list