Gents Mag 1829 part 2 p.502

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1829 part 2 p.502 This much I do know, that where Acts of Parliament have been obtained for rebuilding some churches, the chief reason assigned has been 'the ruinous and dangerous state of the tower;' yet when proceeding to pull down the fabric, the same tower has been found in best repair, although the most ancient part, and in some cases has actually been allowed to stand rather than the expence and trouble of removing so firm a mass should be incurred! This, I believe, is the case with Mitcham in Surrey, where the tower is left in a most awkward position by the chancel wall. An old author says of the English, that when they get together and become merry, 'they are wont to adjourn to some neighbouring church, and ring a merry peal,' surely an unobjectionable mode of divertisment. Most of us know that bells were in early ages, as they are still, I believe, in Catholic countries, baptised and consecrated with much ceremony, and dedicated to some particluar saint, for a curious account of all which Stell's 'Beehive of the Roman Church,' 1580, may be consulted. The tolling of a bell had powerful effects. It kept the spirits of darkness from assaulting believers; it dispelled thunder, and prevented the Devil from molesting either the church or congregation, and hence the bells were rung with due ardour and devotion, in time of storm. To insure these valuable services many, in the 'dark ages,' were induced to bequeath property for the support of favourite bells, which could be rung at their funeral to the discomfiture of the arch fiend, whose attempts to get possession of the deceased's soul were paralyzed by the hallowed sound; and to what purpose, can you inform me, are the funds devoted, if the terms of the bequest are not complied with? Old bells have generally inscriptions detailing their wonderful properties. We are first informed to what Saints they were dedicated, and then we are reminded of the less important duties: 'sabbata pango, funera plango, solemnia chango.' Since we have been emancipated from the 'damnable doctrine and heresy' of Popery, to be sure we have no such veneration for bellringing, but there are occasions on which it would be grievously vexatious, both to the performers and the public, if the exercise was interdicted, and the exhilerating harmony of treble bobs, grandsire bobs,' or any sort of bobs from 'Cripplegate chorus,' to 'St. Dunstan's doubles,' were no longer to be heard. Many anecdotes of bellringers might be related, and many stories illustrative of the beneficial effect of this 'very delightful and pleasing exercise;' but I fear I have already intruded myself too far, and shall conclude with a few short extracts from the work to which I have referred. 'While other sports,' says the enthusiastic campanologist, are 'unaccompanied by melody, nothing can yield a more pleasant and harmonious sound than eight or ten merry bells, well rung by ringers well skilled and practised. There have been,' he continues, 'many noble and ingenious persons that have been very ambitious and desirous of attaining a knowledge in the art, and, moreover, at this time, to our certain knowledge, there are several learned and eminent persons, both clergy and laymen, of good estates, that are members of several societies of ringers, inhabiting within this city, and think themselves very much respected and highly favoured, that they can attain so great a happiness and honour. Nor is it less esteemed and admired by foreigners, who have acknowledged that in all parts, wherever they have been, the like is not known; and therefore they have named England 'the ringing country.' This we hope will satisfy the judicious, that the scandalous aspersions cast upon this art are erroneous, and malicious, and that other exercises are not in the least to be compared with it, because not so artful, or requiring so thoughtful and ingenious a head-piece.' L. the subject is continued:- THE earliest peal of Bells which we read of was at the Abbey of Croyland, put up soon after the Conquest; it consisted of five, but we are not acquainted with their weights. 'At the Abbey of St. Peter's, Westminster,' says an author of the fourteenth century, 'are two bells, which, over all the bells of the world, obtain the precedence in wonderful size and tone.' A writer of the twelfth century says, that Conrad, Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, fixed in the clock house five exceedingly great bells, of which one required eight men to ring it,
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