No_4_November_and_December__1953 — Page 54

The New

Chime of

Bells at

St. John's

Cathedral

The Chime of eight bells recently installed in the Cathedral, (manu- factured by Messrs. Gillett & Johnston of Croydon, England) call to mind one of the oldest crafts in existence. and form a link with our Home Coun- try, which is noted for the fact that practically all rings of bells as we know them, are cast and tuned there, and also that the Art (or "Exercise" as it is known among its adherents) of Campanology was born and per- lected in that country.

Bell founding dates its origin al- most to the beginning of civilisation -the Chinese made bells as long ago as 4,000 B.C., and since that time they have been made in almost every country. The birth of the art of beil founding in Europe dates from the growth of Christianity, and since the Middle Ages many beautiful examples have been cast. The earliest record of bells being made in England, was in the 10th Century, when they are mentioned as having been made by St. Dunstan. Many were sold or des- troyed at the Reformation, and the Art was probably at its best in the 17th Century, when Change Ringing as we now know it came into being.

Of the many Founders in existence at this time only three existing firms trace their origin to these early manu- facturers. Mears & Stainbank claim to be the oldest, having been es- tablished in 1570-they also cast can non for the Navy at the time of the Spanish Armada; next come Taylors of Loughborough, 1840, and then Gil- lett & Johnston of Croydon in 1844. The latter is the only English firm making both bells and clocks.

ST JOHNS CATHEDRAL

HONGKONG

CHIME OF 8. BASS 27 CWTS

The St. John's Cathedral chime of eight bells which were dedicated and inaugurated at a service in the Cathedral on Sunday, November 22.

inside of the bell, but it was not un- large number of methods of mathe- til Canon Simpson rediscovered a matical combinations in accordance method practised on the Continent with set rules whereby any one bell in the early 17th Century, that the only changes its place by single steps. birth of modern tuning took place. On eight bells there are two well de- This was taken up by Taylors and fined types of methods. i.e. Triples Gillett & Johnston, and developed and Major: in the first, only seven into a perfect art. The Cathedral bells bells change, the largest for Tenor) are tuned to Gillett & Johnston's always striking last and being called perfected 5-tone harmonic principle a "covering" bell. In Major methods developed from the Simpson Method, the Tenor is "turned in" and works

with the others. The full extent of

Bell metal has been nearly of the same composition throughout the ages pure copper and tin in appro-

Change Ringing cannot be carried changes possible is 5,040 in Triples and ximate proportions of 13 to 4. It is out on the St. John's Chime, as it is 40.320 in Major methods. The full commonly belleved that the addition necessary for the bell to move of precious metals improves the tune, through 360

for this purpose. It

extent of changes possible on 12 bells would be 479,001,600 changes, and but this is a poetic fallacy-gold bells, was considered that it would be

would take some 37 years to ring. In If possible. would sound similar to difficult to obtain a band of Ringers, practice any number over 5,000 those made from lead The art of and also that the climate is not suit- changes is called a Peal, and on an bell tuning was originally carried out able for such an energetic occupa- average ring of bells takes about 3 by chipping away portions from the tion. Change ringing consists of a hours.

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