CHURCH BELLS AT ST CUTHBERT’S, FISHLAKE.
Bells in churches have a very long history. The bell was first used by Christians for church purposes from AD 400 for calling worshipers to services or calls to prayer.
In the very early days, the bells were “chimed” to make a sound but the ringers had little control over the order in which the bells sounded and therefore the “music” they played.
The origins of what we call change ringing lie in the sixteenth century when church bells began to be hung with a full wheel enabling the bell to swing in a full circle and back again. This gave ringers control of their bell, which allowed sets of bells (rings) to be rung in a continuously changing pattern. Music is created by moving bells up and down the ringing order to a defined sequence known as a method. By this time most churches had 2 or 3 bells. Larger churches had even more.
During the Commonwealth era (mid 17 th century) bell ringing was discouraged so by 1700 belfries became somewhat neglected. It has been said that to be a ringer was to be a lay-about and a drunk. As a consequence of that neglect the standard of behaviour had deteriorated, hence the appearance of ringer boards hung below the church tower listing ringer’s rules and regulations, the Fishlake board example dated 1733 see below. Also the archdeacons presentation returns are critical of belfry neglect found in local parishes, see examples for Fishlake below.
Bells served and provided a number of what can be described as important functions:
Bells provide a medium for communication both spiritual and secular. For centuries church bells have sounded, calling people to worship, in celebration of special occasions eg weddings, in remembrance eg funerals and to mark special events eg of national importance. Although silenced during WW11 bells could be rung to notify of an enemy invasion.
There are a great many customs and practices both local and national in relation to when and how bell ringing practices operated.
Other uses and practices less well know….
In Christianity the ringing of church bells is traditionally believed to drive out demons and other unclean spirits.
Warnings during times of flooding or fires. The bells being rung backwards for example…Taken from the Diary of Abraham De La Pryme as reproduced in Tomlinson's Levels of Hatfield Chace and Part Adjacent. "1697 December 17, 18, 19, 20….
“About forty one years ago there was then the greatest flood that was ever remembered, but that was much less than this for this came roaring all of a sudden about 11 o'clock at night unto Bramwith, Fishlake, Thorn and other the towns upon which the people rung all the bells backward (as they commonly do in case of a great fire).’
Another function not usually acknowledged in the main stream history is bells as instruments of healing through sound frequencies. Sound healing has been understood and used by our ancestors for many thousands of years. As a bell sounds at certain resonances these frequencies have beneficial affects on the human body to promote a healing response. Acting in a similar way as tuning forks or musical instruments.
This picture has been taken from Fishlake: The Story of a South Yorkshire Village: The First 2000 Years. With thanks.
An early reference to church bells at Fishlake can be found in an , Inventoried of church goods 1552. See Surtees Society Journal for 1896 no 97 p 105.
Although the parish name is missing along with the number of bells it clearly refers to the parish of Fishlake. The record states ‘…….. belles in the steple’.
The following is taken from the Yorkshire Archaeological Society Journal xv11 1904. West Riding Church Bells p9 Fishlake St. Cuthbert’s. This report is based on the work J Eyre Poppleton entitled Notes on the Bells of the ancient churches of the West Riding of Yorkshire. As following is a gathering of information he has assembled. I have added a basic Google translation into English.
Fishlake has
[Six Bells:
One. Cantate Domino Novvm Cantvm 1706 (Sing to the Lord, the ninth song).
Two. Cantate Deo Psallite Nomini Elvs 1706 (Sing to God, sing psalms to His name).
Three. Te Devm Lab Damvs te Dominvm Confitemvr 1706 (You are the God of the Universe, the Lord of the Universe).
Four. Soli Deo Gloria 1641. (Glory to God alone).
Five. Celorum xte Placeat rex sonus iste (May this sound please the King of Heaven).
Six. John Warner and sons London recast by subscription AD 1868 G Ornsby, vicar. JH Marsdin, J F Froggett Churchwarden.
In an article by Rev George Ornesby, vicar of Fishlake in the Gentleman’s Magazine vol. 52 May 1859. He sates the church had then two ancient bells as follows.
One (in Lombardics) SANCTE NICHOLAE ORA PRO NOBLS. (SAINT NICHOLAS PRAYS FOR THE NOBLES).
Two (in black letters) Dne Jesu Christe placeat Tivi sonus iste (Lord Jesus Christ, may this sound please you).
He goes on to say bell one is probably now represented by No 6 having been recast as thereon stated, but I think two is but a misreading of the present No 5 especially as Mr Ornesby says that the other bells were put up ‘about a century and a half ago’.
In 1506 Robert Cook the elder by his Will left 3s 4d ‘magnae campenae’ of Fishlake, probably the St Nicholas bell.
In 1692 the church wardens were presented to the archdeacon for ‘That the bell ropes and bell frames be so much decayed that they are not for for use’.
In 1705 the church wardens were presented for not getting the great bell, which has broken, repaired.
It will be noticed that three of the present bells were cast in the following year, probably as a result of this presentation.
In 1886 it was customary to ring the tenor bell at 6am, noon and 6 pm on weekdays. On Good Friday morning the tenor user to be tolled for service instead of a bell ring as usual (Henderson’s Folk Lore, Northern counties p 16).
Ringers Rules: on a board in the tower……
All you, that are ringers these words well remark.
If a bell you throw over, by light or by dark.
Four pence you do forfeit, or your hat to the clark.
If any with hats on or spurs they do ring.
Four pence without grading must pay unto him.
Also all new ringers on the old ringers must pay.
James Pitman
Licensed Clerk. 1733.]
The maintenance of bells is and certainly was an ongoing expense for the parish. The following extracts are taken from Churchwardens accounts which illustrates this point really well.
Jonathan Goodridge was the Churchwarden for the year 1722 he records in his yearly accounts.
Pd Edward Forster for a Piece of Leather for ye Great Bell…0.1.0
Paid for Six New bell Ropes….1.7.0
For Stretching ye New Ropes….0.2.0
Spent on Ringers May ye 29……0.6.8
To Geo Bedford for mending ye bell Tongue….0.1.6
In another year we have…
1732 October 11. For Ringing on the Kings Coronation….. 0.16.0
More detailed information about the Six bells taken from Fishlake: The Story of a South Yorkshire Village: The First 2000 Years, which in turn has taken this detail from Pembletons, Bellhangers and Engineers, of Derbyshire. Giving the diameter, approximate weight, date and Founder.
One 31.5” 6.5 cwts 1706. Samuel Smith, York.
Two 34” 7.5 cwts 1706 Samuel Smith, York.
Three 36” 8 cwts 1706 Samuel Smith, York.
Four 38.6” 9.5 cwts 1641 Oldfield Possibly.
Five 40” 11.5 cwts 1506 Mellours Family, Nottingham.
Six 45” 16 cwts 1868 John Warner & Sons, London.
More recently….
Also taken from Fishlake: The Story of a South Yorkshire Village…‘John Waite remembers bell-ringing in the village to be a family affair. John's family incidentally, has been in Fishlake since at least the 14 th century. His father, Dick, rang the treble bell, whilst number two bell was rung by Oliver Kershaw, number three by Jim Kershaw, number four by Tommy Leak of Thorne, number five by John's uncle Frank Kershaw, with Bert Cooper as captain ringing the tenor.’
Rob Downing January 2025