The Bells of St Marys
Church bells have always played a significant part in the life and ministry of the Christian Church. No more so than at St Mary’s.
Four of our six bells were made as long ago as 1744 by Thomas Newman; a fifth in 1775 from Osborn & Arnold and our “youngest” bell made by Thomas Mears as long ago as 1817. The set was last re-hung on a new oak frame by Day & Sons in 1897.
In 1957, Joe Smith from the bell foundry Taylor’s, with active heavy work from villagers John & George Couzens, Roy Owen and our then tower captain Tony Owen did miraculous work to improve the “ring ability” by introducing ball bearings.
For over 50 years Tony Owen in the position of Tower Captain, and his successor David Emerson have both kept our bells operational.
But we now face an enormous challenge if we are to maintain the over 250-year old tradition of bell ringing at St Mary’s, and hand on a viable legacy to the young and as yet unborn generation of North Creakers.