Welcome to St Botolph's Church
Welcome to St Botolph's Church 

The Bells of St Botolphs

Before 1883 there were only four bells in the tower.  These were inscribed as follows:


1. Thomas Russell of Wooton [made] mee 1715
(Weight, 4 cwt, 3 qr, 18 lb)
2. Who made thee Chandler made me 1654
(Weight, 5 cwt, 3 qr, 0 lb)
3. G. Mears & Co. Founders London 1861
(Weight, 6 cwt, 3 qr, 23 lb)
4. C. & G. Mears Founders London 1850
(Weight, 7 cwt, 1 qr, 15 lb)


To quote Thomas North writing in The Church Bells of Bedfordshire published in 1883:


“these four bells were, to use a ringers report, a bad lot as regards gear and note; they are not one family.  The previous third bell was cracked and so had to be recast in the year 1861.  The previous fourth fell out of its mountings and was cracked when one ‘Will Brown’ was ringing the Sermon-bell on a Sunday morning.  It had a narrow escape from being broken again on its return from the founders, for, the task of it being entrusted to John Hewlatt, of Aspley, and he attempting to raise it by a rope too weak for the purpose, the bell fell upon the stone floor when fifteen feet above the ground.  Fortunately only a small piece was broken off, the sound not being materially altered.”


The present ring of six bells were cast in 1883 and hung on a new wooden frame that year.  They were dedicated in a special service on Tuesday, 29th May [the same year].  The bells have the following inscriptions:


1 to 5: JOHN TAYLOR & CO. BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1883
6: TO THE GLORY OF GOD. J.C. MALBY M.A. RECTOR
    G.A.D. MAHON W. SMITH CHURCH WARDENS
    APRIL 1883 JOHN TAYLOR & CO. BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH


The weight of the bells are:


1. 3 cwt, 0 qr, 10 lb
2. 2 cwt, 3 qr, 11 lb
3. 4 cwt, 2 qr, 27 lb
4. 5 cwt, 2 qr, 9 lb
5. 7 cwt, 0 qr, 1 lb
6. 10 cwt, 0 qr, 11 lb


The bells were rehung on roller bearings in 1963.  A celebratory centenary peel was rung by local ringers in 1983. 


The tower is lucky to have an active ringing team who ensure the bells are rung regularly for Sunday services and special occasions. If you are interested in joining the ringers or learning to ring, contact the Churchwardens.

Come and Join Us

St Botolph's Church

Church Street

Aspley Guise

Bedfordshire

MK17 8HN

Tel: 01908 107287

Print | Sitemap
Copyright St Botolphs Church, Aspley Guise. Not to be reproduced in whole or part without permission.