St Mary Magdalene Church Bells

The church dates from 1220 and the earliest reference to its bells is from the reign of Edward VI (1547–1553), which mention three bells and a Sanctus bell. King Charles I gifted a new bell. In March 1717 the Vestry drew up detailed regulations for their ringing, prompted by complaints that the irregular times were inconvenient, preventing some from attending public prayers and forcing others to wait “in the cold and rain for a long time.” The current ring at Saint Mary Magdalene consists of eight Bells: three Bells from 1680, three from 1740, one from 1742, one from 1760.

Over the years the bells have required periodic repair and rehanging. The most recent major work was carried out in the 1980s when the ring was rehung, including the heavy tenor bell, which weighs nearly 19 cwt. The bells do not sound well together as a set, and the sound of the bells individually is poor.

Five of the eight bells have been chip-tuned or skirted, tuning techniques common before the introduction of bell tuning on a vertical lathe. The bells are also too heavy. The church finds that bell ringing recruits give up when they feel they are not getting anywhere. The project will create a new ring of bells incorporating three older bells, which are lighter in weight, tuned to modern standards, and hung on normal headstocks. This would improve the long-term potential of bells being rung in Richmond for the future. The other old bells will be put on display in the church.