Newnham on Severn

[George Dawson]

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MessageRemembering the enquiry about this, I enclose the Bell News report o=
n the dedication of the new ring (29.12.1894, p387):

DEDICATION OF NEW BELLS AT NEWNHAM,GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The dedication of the new peal of eight bells, which replace a
similar number that occupied the belfry at St. Peter's parish
church, Newnham.on-Severn, took place at a special service
held in the church on Thursday evening, December 20th, when
a fairly numerous congregation assembled. After a pleasing
voluntary hy the organist, the choir and congregration sang the
242nd hymn ' We love the place, O God." Then the vicar,
speaking from the pulpit, delivered an address eminently appropriate to
the occasion, after which the choir following the vicar,
proceeded down the aisle to the belfry, when the I5oth Psalm
was chanted. Several dedication prayers were read, after which
Psalm cxxii. was chanted. The vicar having repeated "I was
glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the
Lord," a very merry peal was rung for the few minutes, filling
the church with joyfull music. Next the hymn commencing with
the words, " Now at length our bells are mounted," was sung.
The last words in the benediction having fallen from the vicar's
lips, the ringers again struck up some Bob Triples, and the
ringing continued for some hours. The leader was F. J. Blan-
ton, and the Newnham company was strengtheued by the
presence and assistance of a few ringers from Westbury,on-
Severn.
It is fitting now that a few facts immediately connected with
the above ceremony should be stated briefly. Late in the
month of March, information reached Newnham of the sudden
death at a ripe old age, of John Hill, Esquire, of Streatham,
Surrey. The deceased gentleman was a native of Newnham,
his family having been resident there, and occupylng a high
social position in the neighbourhood for many years previously.
He had carried on a lucrative business in London as an india-
rubber manufacturer, and had amassed considerable wealth.
Throughout his prosperous career he made as frequent visits to
the town as opportunity afforded, and he always evinced a deep
and lively concern for the welfare and progress of tile town, with
whose interests his forefathers were so closely connected.
Without exception he was a cheerful subscriber to any good
work set in motion in the town, and from his ample means he
made such considerable donations as entitled him to be
regarded in the town as a real benefactor. One of his most
handsome presents was his contribution to the Church Resto-
ration Fund, and he also subscribed towards the fund raised for
assisting the committee charged with promoting the now almost
forgotten Newnham Severn Bridge scheme. Shortly after his
decease a most welcome piece of information reached Newn-
ham, that in his will, the gentleman above-named had made a
bequest, having left the sum of =A32,000 towards the erection of a
clock and chimes in the church tower; for seats in the church-
yard, and on the Round Green; and lastly for providing warm
clothing for the deserving poor of the parish. Later on a cer-
tified copy of the clause in the will relating to the use of the
munificent bequest, was obtained by the vicar and the Churchwardens (Messrs=
. Carter and Hinton), from which it was learned
that the three objects mentioned were to be undertaken in the
following consecutive order: first the new chime clock; next
the two iron park seats, each nine feet long; and thirdly, the
investment of the balance for the purpose of producing an
annual income to be expended in the repairs of the clock and
seats, and the purchase of the clothing every winter for such
deserving poor persons of the parish, as the trustees for the
time being may in their discretion think fit recipients for the
Charity.
The bequest was free of legacy and other duties, and the
trustees were the vicar and the churchwardens for the time
being, and in determining the particulars of his wishes, the
trustees were repeatedly enjoined to act in their uncontrolled
discretion. The dedication service arose in consequence of the
necessity for recasting the peal which the parish chllrch already
possessed, so as to ensure perfect tune, and this and the work con-
nected therewith, was placed in the hands of Messrs. Mears and
Stainbank. The framework of the bells is of iron, and the
raising of the ponderous weights required to be lifted with the
greatest possible care and accllracy.

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