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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D990204907-06=
092002>I=20
think the original query was the date of the earliest known ring=
of=20
bells. If this is interpreted as a set of bells intended =
to be=20
rung together then the following information taken from<EM> Lincolnshire Be=
lls=20
and Bellfounders </EM>about Crowland appears to be relevant=20
:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D990204907-06092002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D990204907-06=
092002>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.1pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 4pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify;=
mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .5in=
1.0in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"> <?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .5=
in 1.0in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">There is a long history of bells at Crowland Abbey=
and it=20
is recorded that the sixth abbot, Turketyl (946-975) cast a great bell whic=
h he=20
named Guthlac. His successor, Egelric (975-984), added six more which he na=
med,=20
Bartholomew, Betelm, Turketyl, Tatwyn, Pega and Bega.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is said that when these =
seven=20
bells were rung ‘an exquisite harmony was produced thereby, nor was t=
here such a=20
peal of bells in those days in all England’.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A fire in 1091 destroyed th=
ese=20
bells and two small bells were presented to the Abbey by Fergus the coppers=
mith=20
of Boston.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Another fire in 1=
171=20
probably destroyed these bells. Abbot Ralph Merske (1253-1281) built a camp=
anile=20
at the East end of the church and in about 1392 a large bell was given or r=
ecast=20
and it would appear that at that time there were two rings of bells.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By 1405 t=
here=20
were ‘four sweetly sounding bells… in the tower beyond the choi=
r’ and <I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">circa</I> 1460 the ‘great bells=
’ in the=20
campanile were recast ‘in order that they might be brought to a state=
of more=20
perfect harmony’.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPA=
N>At the=20
dissolution of the Abbey the bells in the campanile were probably destroyed=
but=20
those in the central tower remained for the use of the parish.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In =
1465=20
the three bells in the central tower were replaced by five ‘fine and =
choice=20
bells’ which were cast in London.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&n=
bsp; =20
</SPAN>The cost of these bells was £165 which was paid by the Abbot.<=
SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is recorded that the fiv=
e new=20
bells were consecrated before being hung in the tower and were inscribed wi=
th=20
the following Saints names : Guthlac, Bartholomew, Michael, Mary and=20
Trinity.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I=
n 1783=20
Gough in his <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">History of Crowland <=
/I>(as=20
quoted by <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">North</I>) recorded the=
=20
inscriptions of three of the bells in the tower at that time as follows=20
:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.1pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 4pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify;=
mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0in=
2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 1=
2pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: no=
ne; tab-stops: .5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black">1.</SPAN></B><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black"> <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> =
=20
</SPAN>IN MULTIS ANNIS RESONET CAMPANA JOHANNIS<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>[This is the present tenor =
bell=20
and was .<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>probably cast a fe=
w years=20
after the five cast in 1465]<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.1pt 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 4p=
t; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none=
; tab-stops: .5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black">2.</SPAN></B><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> =
=20
</SPAN>SUM ROSA PULSATA MUNDI MARIA VOCATA <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> =
=20
</SPAN>[Trans : I being rung am called Mary the Rose=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> =
=20
</SPAN>of the world]<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>[Cast=20
1465]<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso=
-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fare=
ast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR=20
style=3D"PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always" clear=3Dall></SPAN>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black">3</SPAN></B><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black">.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> =
=20
</SPAN>HEC CAMPANA BEATA TRINITATI SACRA <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"></SPAN>[Trans : This bell is sacred<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to the Blessed <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> =20
</SPAN>Trinity]<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  =
; </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>[Cast 1465]</SPAN></FONT></P=
>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black"><FONT face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black"><o:p><SPAN class=3D990204907-06092002><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">At Lincoln Cathedral elaborate rules for the ringi=
ng of=20
bells date from c1260 and it is clear that very soon aftdr the dedication o=
f the=20
Cathedral in 1072 there were four bells intended to be 'rung' together. (Se=
e=20
Lincoln Cathedral : A History of the Bells, Bellringers and=20
Bellringing)</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black"><o:p><SPAN class=3D990204907-06092002><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in -7.55pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 2.0=
in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black"><o:p><SPAN class=3D990204907-06092002><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Isn't the six at St Swithins Worcester a complete =
six=20
cast in the sevcenteenth=20
century?</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<P><FONT size=3D2>From : John Ketteringham of Lovely Lincoln in Lincolnshir=
e,=20
England<BR><BR><A href=3D"http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.ketteringham/"=
=20
target=3D_blank>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.ketteringham/</A><BR></FO=
NT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DTah=
oma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Mark Humphreys=20
[mailto:mark.humphreys@b...]<BR><B>Sent:</B> 06 September 2002=
=20
07:57<BR><B>To:</B> bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:=
=20
[Bell Historians] Re: The Earliest Ring of Bells<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><TT>=
>=20
--- In bellhistorians@y..., "mikechester_uk" <mike@m...> wrote:<BR>=
>=20
> I was asked in the pub after practice tonight where is the=20
earliest<BR>> > recorded "ring" of bells, i.e. hung for full circle=
=20
ringing<BR>> > with "several" bells in the ring. I don't wher=
e it=20
came from, but<BR>> > Crowland Abbey sprang to mind. I bet I'=
m=20
wrong, but I also bet<BR>> that<BR>> > someone on the list knows=
the=20
right answer!<BR><BR>If we're talking complete rings, New College, Oxford=
,=20
were an eight cast by<BR>Michael Darbie in 1655. Unfortunately, fou=
r of=20
these survive, seemingly<BR>untuned since. They are said to be the =
first=20
eight cast by one founder at<BR>one time.<BR><BR>Otherwise, isn't it Bart=
's,=20
Smithfield?<BR><BR>Mark<BR><BR></TT><BR><BR><TT>This=20
message was sent to you via the Bell Historians' Mailing List. To unsubsc=
ribe=20
from the list send an email to=20
bellhistorians-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com<BR><BR></TT><BR><BR><TT>Your u=
se of=20
Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <A=20
href=3D"http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/">Yahoo! Terms of Service</A>.</=
TT>=20
<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>