Cheddington Bells

Did you know that the oldest bell at St Giles is over 450 years old?

Without your help, they could be irreparably damaged by cracking caused by corrosion of the wrought iron staples from which the bells are hung. We need £11,000 to send the bells away for repair, and to replace the bearings.

Bell 5 was cast probably by John Saunders, who was active from 1539 to 1559. Its inscription [S]ancta Maria ora pro nobis (Holy Mary, pray for us) suggests that he cast it during the reign of Mary Tudor (1554-8) who tried to re-impose Catholicism as the state religion. She married Philip II of Spain, who in 1588 launched the Spanish Armada against England.

Bell 3 was cast by John Dyer in 1593, the year Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew was first performed, and the London theatres closed during the summer because plague was rife.

Bell 4 was cast at Oxford by John Keen in 1634, while Charles I was making himself unpopular by reintroducing the ship-money tax.

Bells 2 and 6 (tenor) date from 1638, the year Charles tried to impose his prayer book on the Scots. This caused the Bishops’ War with Scotland, the precursor of the English Civil Wars (1642-8).

In 1649 Charles I lost his head, and under Cromwell’s government the bells fell silent for ten years. In many churches, the fun-loving puritans removed them and melted them down. They also banned maypole dancing, and in 1647 they even banned Christmas. Thankfully, Cheddington’s five bells survived, and villagers have rung them ever since, except in time of war.

In 1911 the oldest bell was re-cast and a sixth (Bell 1 or treble) was added, giving us the peal we have today.

The bell ringers also welcome new members, young or old. So if you would like to try your hand at ringing them, just as your predecessors have done for centuries, contact Alan Masters on 01296 668024 or AlanRMasters@btinternet.com.