The Church Bells
S John Baptist, Boughton
Some historical snippets
BRIDGES
In his History of the County, Bridges notes that at Boughton there were three bells:
1, 2 T BRIANT HERTFORD 1824 23", 26"
3 OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI
T. EAYRE W. ALLEN W. FOSCOTT C.W. 1749 29"
In the Inventory of Church Goods taken in 1552 belonging to the ancient church of Boughton.... is found the following entry:
It'
too bells of the which bells the one was brocken don by theffes on a nyght cloffen & broken & then yt was sold by the holle cosent of the piche unto Goodma Freyre of Ecton for the some of Vli the which Vli was spete in the defendynge of the Warren.
It'
one sanct' bell
This church, owing to its inconvenient distance from the town, was allowed about that time to fall into decay: hence probably the damage to, and the sale of, the bell as mentioned in the Inventory. There are, I think, reasons for believing that the second bell went to Moulton.
In the centre of the village stands the present church, which was originally a chantry chapel, where as early as 1546 ij chantry prestes (did) celebrate for the ease of the parishioners.
In 1700 there were three bells there inscribed:
1 Cantate Domino canticum novvum : 1653
2 God be our good speed : 1653
3 Henry Baglee made mee : 1653*
but which have since been recast as above.
No difference is made to distinguish age or sex in ringing the Death-knell.
A bell is rung at 8a.m. on Sunday morning.
For Divine Service all the bells are chimed.
* Bridges MSS (Bibl.Bodl.EE.1.)
Thomas North, The Church Bells of Northamptonshire (1878)
MOULTON
In 1700 there were five bells.... the tenor was inscribed
Sancte Confessor Christi Benedicte Ora Pro Nobis Deum [27 cwt]
In 1795 a bell with a similar inscription was recast at Leicester. It bore the head of Henry III, King of England in the time of Pope Benedict.
North believes this to be the bell which is not accounted for from the ruined church at Boughton, when the spire fell in 1786.
THE MODERN BELLS AT BOUGHTON
A Ring of Five - total weight 1 ton and 9lbs
TREBLE 2 cwts 3qtrs 21 lbs F sharp
1907
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF
THE REVD JOHN BECK WICKES M.A.
(Recast by John Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1957)
SECOND 3 cwts 13 lbs E
J BRIANT HERTFORD. Fecit MDCCCXXIV
(Recast by John Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1957)
THIRD 3 cwts 1 qtr 26 lbs D sharp
T.EAYRE : W. ALLEN & T. FOSCOTT : CW : 1749
OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI
(Recast 1907)
(Recast by John Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1957)
FOURTH 4 cwts 1 qtr 15 lbs C Sharp
J BRIANT HERTFORD. Fecit MDCCCXXIV
(Recast by John Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1957)
FIFTH 6 cwts and 18 lbs B
1907
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF
THE REVD JOHN BECK WICKES M.A.
(Recast by John Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1957)
B. HYMERS, B.A., A.A.C.P. Rector
H.H. KIMBELL / G. HOARE Churchwardens
