St Vedast - Foster Lane, London, UK
N 51° 30.895 W 000° 05.780
30U E 701466 N 5711085
St Vedast church stands a short distance to the north east of St Paul's Cathedral in Foster Lane, just off Cheapside. St Vedast is a beautiful Wren Church at the heart of the City of London. The bells are located in the church's tower.
Waymark Code: WMEKEB
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/09/2012
Views: 4
Six bells are housed in the church's tower,
just below the steeple.
Loves Guide website (visit link) tells us:
- 6 bells
- Tenor: 16-2-12 in F
- Never subsequently retuned
- Frame: 1960 Mears & Stainbank (timber)
| Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Note |
Cast |
Founder |
| 1 |
5-2-16 |
30" |
D |
1960 |
Mears & Stainbank |
| 2 |
6-1-8 |
32" |
C |
1960 |
Mears & Stainbank |
| 3 |
7-0-23 |
34" |
B flat |
1960 |
Mears & Stainbank |
| 4 |
8-3-6 |
36" |
A |
1960 |
Mears & Stainbank |
| 5 |
11-2-17 |
40" |
G |
1960 |
Mears & Stainbank |
| 6 |
16-2-12 |
45" |
F |
1960 |
Mears & Stainbank |
HISTORY
1552
Record of 5 bells and a sanctus.
1671/2 A ring of 6 bells was cast for the tower by John Darbie.
1697 Church rebuilt.
1704 A bell was cast for the church of
St Matthew, Friday St.
1706 A clock bell was cast, the gift
of Peter Pickering.
1708 Record of 6 bells in the tower.
1726 Tenor recast.
1797 4th recast.
Late 19th Cent A commentator found "the
whole ring in a disgraceful state, one of the worst belfries in the City". A
clock bell was noted in the open part of the steeple and a disused bell (from St
Matthew, Friday St) hung in the SW corner of the frame.
1882
The bells were put into order by G.R. Banks of Kennington Lane.
1885 14th Aug Church reopened after
restoration.
1887 St Matthew's, Friday St was
pulled down and the parish united with St Vedast. The bell was transferred to St
Vedast and hung dead in the frame.
1941 10th May The church was bombed
and the bells were damaged. They all remained in the tower, badly cracked, and
taken for recasting.
1960 A new ring of 6 bells was cast
and hung in a new frame in the tower."