Bell Tower - St Michael - Compton Chamberlayne, Wiltshire
Posted by: SMacB
N 51° 04.198 W 001° 57.590
30U E 572877 N 5658120
Bell tower of St Michael's church, Compton Chamberlayne, with a ring of 6 bells.
Waymark Code: WMWVF1
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/17/2017
Views: 0
Bell tower of St Michael's church, Compton Chamberlayne, with a ring of 6 bells.
Compton Chamberlayne, Wilts
S Michael |
Bells |
Bell |
Weight |
Nominal |
Note |
Diameter |
Dated |
Founder |
Canons |
Turning |
1 |
3-2-8 |
1551.0 |
G |
25.25" |
1878 |
John Warner & Sons |
R |
|
2 |
3-2-26 |
1381.0 |
F |
26.00" |
1878 |
John Warner & Sons |
R |
|
3 |
4-0-1 |
1230.0 |
Eb |
27.63" |
1878 |
John Warner & Sons |
R |
|
4 |
4-2-10 |
1158.0 |
D |
28.63" |
1878 |
John Warner & Sons |
R |
|
5 |
5-2-24 |
1035.0 |
C |
31.50" |
1656 |
William III Purdue |
R |
|
6 |
6-3-5 |
919.0 |
Bb |
34.25" |
1616 |
John Wallis |
R |
|
SOURCE - (Visit Link)
"In 1553, the parish retained a chalice weighing 7 oz., and 10 oz. of plate was confiscated for the King. There were three bells at this time. The vicar Humphrey Dale was still performing ceremonies ‘in the lattyne service’ in 1558, and parishioners were leaving bequests for the ringing of the church bells for a month after their funeral in 1561. Another tradition at this time was the provision of a cake for the parish clerk at the time of a woman’s churching.
New bells were procured in 1614 and 1616 - the latter with the inscription ‘HONOUR THE KING’ - possibly indicating the acquisition of the rectory by the Penruddocks. The third bell was replaced in 1656 and was inscribed with the initials of the infant Lay Rector George Penruddock, despite the confiscation of the family estates for his father’s treason in the previous year.
Perhaps because of the poverty of the benefice, the vicarage was often held by pluralists who may also have been absentees.
In 1878 Charles Penruddock (d. 1899) donated two new bells and a third was donated by his wife and daughters, bringing the total to six. This coincided with his appointment as parish clerk, following dissatisfaction with the state of church at that time. Holding this office, together with that of Lay Rector and churchwarden, along with being the principal landowner, led to him being described as ‘lay-bishop’ of Compton Chamberlayne."
SOURCE - (Visit Link)