St Giles Church
PARISH OF CHEDDINGTON AND MENTMORE with Wing and Wingrave
Tel: 661761 Email: stgiles@cheddington.org.uk
Click on the latest Newsletter icon on the right for full details of service times and news from the parish
Please note that there is an error in the newsletter.
On Sunday 3rd October the service at Mentmore is Harvest Festival Service at 11.30am (instead of 10am Holy Communion).
THE CHURCH
Click on the 'History' icon on the right for more photos and history of St Giles
THE BELLS!
The oldest bell at St Giles is over 450 years old.
Bell 5 was cast probably by John Saunders, who was active from 1539 to 1559. Its inscription (S)anta Maria ora pro nobis (Holy Mary pray for us) suggests that he cast it during the reign of Mary Tudor (1554-8) who tried to re-impose Catholicism as the state religion. She married Philip II of Spain, who in 1588 launched the Spanish Armada against England.
Bell 3 was cast by John Dyer in 1593, the year Shakespear's Taming of the Shrew was first performed, and the London theatres closed during the summer because the plague was rife.
Bell 4 was cast at Oxford by John Keen in 1634, whilst Charles I was making himself unpopular by introducing the ship-money tax.
Bells 2 and 6 (tenor) date from 1638, the year Charles tried to impose his prayer book on the Scots. This caused the Bishops' War with Scotland, the precursor of the English Civil Wars (1642-8).
In 1649 Charles lost his head, and under Cromwell's government the bells fell silent for ten years. In many churches, the fun loving puritans removed them and melted them down. They also banned maypole dancing, and in 1647 they even banned Christmas. Thankfully, Cheddington's five bells survived, and villagers have rung them ever since, except in time of war.
In 1911 the oldest bell was recast and a sixth (Bell 1 or treble) was added giving us the peal we have today.
These historically valuable bells need to be maintained, which is why the bell ringers will be holding some fundraising events later in the year, starting with a musical evening on Saturday 6th June at St Giles.
The bell ringers also welcome new members, young or old. So if you would like to try your hand at ringing them, just as your predecessors have done for centuries, contact Alan Masters (visit the Bell Ringers page by clicking on the link on the right!).
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