Have you ever stopped to think how and why the church bells of St Laurence in Thanet Church are rung?
Did you know by ringing the bells you can keep fit and play with antiques at the same time?
There is currently a ring of 10 bells in the tower at St Laurence. However, this has not always been the case. The first record of bells in the tower is from 1704 when there was a ring of five bells and these five bells were recast in 1724.
The next change was in 1808 when the five bells were recast again, and one further bell was added making a ring of six. In 1890, two further bells were added making a ring of eight. This is a common number of bells for a church of this size.
In 1911, the current Fourth, Ninth and Tenor bells were re-cast and the bells rehung in commemoration of the reign of H.M. King George V.
In 1924, two additional bells were added, the current Treble and Second bells. These bells have special significance as they are memorial bells. The cost of the bells was met by public donations following the Great War of 1914-18, in memory of the lives of local men who did not come home.
These bells are inscribed:
The Great War 1914-18. To the Glory of God and thanksgiving for “Peace”. This bell was dedicated Armistice Sunday, November 9th, 1924.
Second – The Great War 1914-18. To the Glory of God and in “Remembrance” of Britain’s Sons who laid down their lives by land and sea. The bell was dedicated Armistice Sunday, November 9th, 1924.
The Peace and Remembrance bells being delivered in 1924. The Wheatsheaf public house can be clearly seen in the background.
In 1997, the bells were removed from the tower and taken to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry where they were tuned for the first time as a complete ring of ten. They were rehung with completely new fittings and rededicated by the Bishop of Dover on 17th January 1998.
The bells are rung for church services and civic and state occasions like the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, ringing in the New Year, weddings, funerals and many other events.
Bell ringing is a traditional art form, a skill passed down from generation to generation since the 1600s and set to continue well into this millennium. However, it needs new people to come along and continue this ancient tradition so please do contact Freda Parker via
towercaptain@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk should you wish to learn to ring the bells or indeed come back to ringing after a break.