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<body>Poppleton gives:<BR>
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THORNTON-IN-CRAVEN </B>(St. Mary). Four bells.<BR>
1. J. SHAW SON & C<SUP>O</SUP>. FOUNDERS BRADFORD<BR>
(lower) GIVE PEACE IN OUR TIME . O . LORD<BR>
RECAST JUNE 1887<BR>
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2. K P IMPRIMIS VENERARE DEUM HENRY RICHARDSON A.M. RECTOR JOHN WILCOCK STEPHEN BANISTER JOHN<BR></DIR></DIR>
(lower) HARGREAVES CHURCHWARDENS<BR>
LESTER & PACK FECIT 1759<BR>
(incised) 6. 2. 12 (possibly the weight)<BR>
3. <FONT face="Monotype Sorts">D</FONT> <SUP>(36)</SUP> <FONT face="Cloister_Black-Light,Times New Roman" size=4>Campana Scs Antonius<BR></FONT>
4. <FONT face="Monotype Sorts">D</FONT> <SUP>(36)</SUP> <FONT face="Cloister_Black-Light,Times New Roman" size=4>Ave gra plena dns tecum<BR></FONT>
The first bell formerly had, according to Whittaker's Craven, an inscription similar to that on the present second. Whittaker also gives the inscription on another bell, which he makes No. 3:-<BR>
VENITE AD PRECES VENITE AD CONCIONES<BR>
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LESTER & PACK 1759<BR></DIR></DIR>
When I was in the tower in 1889 there was the appearance of there having at one time been six bells.<BR>
The Rev. Henry Richardson was rector 1735-78, and has a monument in the church. On the tower is carved the date of its building, a'no D’m MCCCCCX, and this may very well be the date of the present third and fourth bells.<BR>
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<BR>So yes, it does appear that the predecessor of the Shaw bell was by Lester & Pack. As regards the back two coming from Sawley Abbey - well, they might have done but there is unlikely to be any evidence of this. There are a number of bells reputed to have come from former religious houses - e.g. the tenor at Thirsk or the tenor at Bedale. Generally there is no evidence to either prove or disprove their origin.<BR>
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David<BR></body>
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