Bells of the City of Westminster


 
St Stephen
 

Westminster, St Stephen, Rochester Row


Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)*
Weight
(As supplied)
Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
® 1 6-1-196-2-2231⅝" C♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 2 7-0-147-1-1833⅛" B♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 3 8-1-208-3-235⅜" A♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 4 9-0-249-2-1337⅞" G♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 5 11-1-111-3-040⅞" F♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 6 13-1-2214-0-243¼" E♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 7 17-1-618-0-1047⅝" D♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 8 23-0-024-0-1852" C♯ 1850 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
Service bell 4-3-726⅝" G 1804 Thomas Mears I, WhitechapelNever

* Source of weight figures: Diameters from WBF 21 Oct 1991
®  - Hung for full circle ringing
 - Hung dead

Bellframes

Position
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Lower 1 Ring of 8 2016 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Cast iron
8.3.C.e
8.3
Upper 2 Service bell

How the bells are tuned

History

1847 The church was built by Benjamin Ferrey and completed in 1850.
1850 A ring of 8 bells was cast by Charles and George Mears and hung in the new tower in a new frame. The bells were donated to the church by Angela Burdett Coutts and cost ?820 13s. 2d. These bells were replicated in the now destroyed ring at New Westminster Cathedral, Canada, also given by Baroness Burdett-Coutts (as she became). The bells were opened on 24th June. [1]
1918 The bells were rehung and quarter turned by Mears & Stainbank.
2016 A complete restoration in the tower took place. The bells were cleaned, but not tuned, and provided with new fittings before being rehung in a new frame. New sound control was installed and a new service bell was purchased and installed in the tower.
[1] Miss Burdett Coutts for St.Stephen's Church, Westminster. To a Peal of 8 Musical Church Bells 6-2-22, 7-1-18, 8-3-2, 9-2-13, 11-3-0, 14-0-2, 18-0-10, 24-0-18 (100-2-1) @ 14d £656.13.2., 8 Clappers £10, 8 Stocks, Wheels, Ironwork, Brasses, Rollers & Ropes £64, Oak frame making & fixing & hanging Bells £84, 8 extra rollers, 105 Yards line 17/-, 32 ft Oak 4 by 2 11/6 nails 2/2 C. Oliver Junr T. Hurry J. Hurry 1 day each £5.5.0., Boxes for ringers to stand upon Timber 5/7, Hurry - day nails 1/6 15s, total £820.13.2 (Whitechapel Day Book)

Articles

  • "Baroness Bountiful", Cawley, D L (The Ringing World) 18 September 1992
  • The ringing room


    The ringing room.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    The belfry before the restoration


    The belfry in 2006.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Dec 2006

    The belfry in 2006.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Dec 2006

    The belfry in 2006.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Dec 2006

    View of the belfry looking liturgical north/west. Tenor in the foreground.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    The 7th
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    Looking liturgical north.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    Looking litergical west.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    Ceiling of the belfry looking up to the spire floor.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    Looking down at some of the pieces of framework.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    The tenor.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    The 4th.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    The framework was patched up with timbers and subsequently strengthened with metal.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    View of the entire belfry.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013

    Looking up in the ringing where the clock case sits on a platform. Some of the ropes pass through this platform.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 21 May 2013


    Love's Guide to the Bells of the City of Westminster Page updated: 15 April 2022