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Introduction
All Saints' Church, Stranton is one of three churches in Hartlepool to have bells in their tower. St Aidans and St Oswalds are the other two. The Arts Centre, formerly Christ Church, also has a ring of bells. Campanology, the art of bell ringing almost died out in Hartlepool, but recent years has seen an increasingly enthusiastic number of people who have learned to ring and make the bells heard on a regular basis.
History
There have been bells at All Saints' Church, Stranton since the middle ages. The church is known to have had a bell in the tower since 1664. A second bell is of great antiquity and is thought to be from around that time, although no exact date is recorded. A third bell was hung in the tower in 1699 and was recast in 1898.
When in 1908 the 3 bells were enhanced to 8 bells, the original 3 bells were included in the ring, but in a new order. So the 1664 bell is now the 4th, the second bell (date unknown) is now the 6th and the 1699 bell was recast for a second time and now hangs as the 7th.
The cast/recast work in 1908 was undertaken by Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, Whitechapel, London. The bells were hung in a wrought iron frame suspended on steel girders.
The bells were rehung again by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1951 when ball bearings were fitted.
The Bells
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Details of the Bells are as recorded when they were first hung in 1908 |
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Treble |
4cwt 0qtrs 0lbs in F |
Inscription: hora fugit ora (The Hour Flies - Pray) |
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Second |
4cwt 0qtrs 13lbs in E |
Inscription: te deum laudamus (We Praise Thee, O God) |
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Third |
4cwt 3qtrs 9lbs in D |
Inscription: benedicte omnia opera (All ye Works, Bless ye The Lord) |
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Fourth |
5cwt 0qtrs 29lbs in C |
Inscription: venite exultemus domino S.S.1664 (O Come Let Us Sing Unto The Lord) |
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Fifth |
6cwt 1qtr 22lbs in Bflat |
Inscription: magnificat anima mea dominum (My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord) |
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Sixth |
6cwt 3qtrs 21lbs in A |
Inscription: ora pro nobs & sca maria (Holy Mary, Pray for Us) |
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Seventh |
9cwt 2qtrs 21lbs in G |
Inscription: clangore dulci sono psallam tibi deus 1699 (Let Us Sing a Psalm Unto Thee, O, God, with a Sweet Sound) |
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Tenor |
12cwt 3qtrs 4lbs in F |
Inscription: vivos voco, mortuos plango (I Call the Living, I Mourn for the Dead) |
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* The bell is believed to be pre-reformation
** The bell has twice been recast
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Interested in becoming a Bell-Ringer?
Anybody who would like to learn or know more about ringing bells in Hartlepool can contact:
Andrew Frost on 01429 281767 or Email at ag.frost@ntlworld.com
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