St Mary's Church to honour families who recast town bells

The eight bells in St Mary’s Church, Bridport, rang for 100 years since they were fully recast in 1924.

READ MORE: Events planned to mark 100 years of St Mary's Church bells

To mark this milestone, the church is looking to reach out to family members of those who were involved in restoring the bells to hear and record their stories.

Bob Harwick, church tower captain, said: “Each bell has a very moving inscription from the families who were part of that major contribution back in 1924, just after the Great War.

“We would like to thank the families who in 1924 made that contribution, by inviting all the families still in Bridport today to please contact us at cwteam@parishofbridport.org, and tell us what you can of the stories of your 1924 families.

“We will then compile a memorial book of those stories.”

While these specific bells have only rung for 100 years, the tower has housed bells since 1552.

No 7 Bell of St Mary's Church (Image: Bob Hardwick)

An inventory revealed that St Mary's only had three bells but this increased to five bells with a clock in 1774.

A further bell was added in 1843 and the final two added in 1887.  All eight bells were recast in 1924.

Other celebratory events took place this month to mark this centenary, including exhibitions of the church and tower at the Bridport Community Charter Fair.

The main celebration day will take place from 10am on Saturday, May 25 with an exhibition at St Mary’s Church followed by a 3pm quarter peal by a Dorset Bell Ringing Team.

This will be followed by a 7pm evening concert at the church with Bothenhampton hand bell ringers, the choir Local Vocals and the band Hat Trick.

On Wednesday, May 29, an East Dorset ringing team will gather at 12.30pm at the tower for a full peal - a ringing performance which typically lasts around three hours.

A brand-new bell ringing peal has been created in honour of the special occasion, and formally named as Bridport Delight Major.