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THE BELLS OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH |
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Although St Mary's Church itself has been extensively altered and rebuilt over the centuries, the tower itself is of great antiquity and dates from the 12th century. When the Rev H. T. Ellacombe visited the church in 1864 he noted that the tower held three bells adding that the bells were in bad order and dirty. Just before the final phase on the church's last reconstruction was completed in 1904, an appeal was launched by the rectors wife. Mrs. W. E. Cox, to increase the number of bells from three to eight ( later revised to six ). The sum required then was estimated at £350.00 which included a silent apparatus for practice. Immediately an anonymous donor pledged £100.00; the rector pledged £10.00 and five guineas then was sent by a lady from Ilfracombe who read of the appeal in the local newspaper. Although the appeal was launched in October 1901, Incredibly, within a few months in March1902, it was announced that the money had been raised and the bell founders Mears and Stainbank of White chapel were instructed to remove the bells immediately. Apparently the moulds forecasting the new bells had already been prepared. It is interesting to note that at the time the middle bell of three ( now No. 4 ) was cracked and had to be recast. |
| At the same time the rector announced that the new treble bell would be donated in memory of his sons and inscribed: " Cuthbert, Eustace, Michael, Cyril, Stephen, Patrick, Denys. We brothers seven give thanks to heaven". An appropriate verse and the name of the rector would be inscribed on the new tenor bell. In order to make room for the new bells it was necessary to remove the words of the tower clock and to reconstruct them on the floor below. The work was carried out by Mr. F. J. Cox of High Street Barnstaple. Mr. Cox was the successor to Mr. John Gaydon who originally installed the church clock then referred to as the Jubilee Clock. |
| By June 1902 the new ring was installed together with a new Oak screen on the ground floor designed by Mr. H. Wilson of Kensington. The Bishop of Exeter officiated at a service of Dedication which took place on the 2 June 1902 in a church crowed to excess. The bells were intended to commemorate the accession and coronation of King Edward VII. After dedication by the Bishop the bells were committed into the hands of the church wardens who invited the Ilfracombe bell ringers to ring the first short peal. It is not known how long it took Lynton to train up a band of ringers but on the 7 July 1909 a team consisting of S. Laramy W. Richards C. Widden J. Blackmore and the Rev. C. A. Philips an old Dorsetshire ringer, rang what was described as the first full peal of 720 changes since the bells were hung in 1902. Seven years ago the medieval No. 5 bell, after centuries of faithful service sustained a crack rendering it unringable. On further inspection it was discovered that much other work was needed to bring the tower and bell chamber to a satisfactory state of repair. Fortunately, the technology of today makes it possible to repair the cracked bell by laser welding rather than having to melt it down and recast. |
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And so the Lynton bells have remained silent. 97 years on and the repair bill is a 100 times the cost at over £35.000, a daunting amount for a small community to raise. But not impossible, So the challenge to make the bells ring again was taken on by Mrs. P Morgan, who on behalf of the church and the community has worked tirelessly to raise money for the restoration of the bells. There followed the usual round of coffee mornings a St David's day luncheon when the menu was of Welsh cuisine, a barn dance, the local line dancing team danced once a week in Lynmouth during the summer season and a assortment of other activates. An on going challenge was to fill a magnum bottle with five pence's via Smartie tubes. When we found ourselves with only £12,000 left to raise an appeal was launched for 1,000 people to donate £1.00 a month for 12 months. This proved to be a winner and 18 months along the line the money was raised and the bells of St Mary's ring again. If anyone would like to hear the bells or have a go themselves come along Monday evenings to our practice night between 7.00 - 8.00. |