Church bells celebrations 1937

Making of the bells

The completion of a scheme launched in 1927 is illustrated by the photo of a new ring of six bells, prepared by Messrs. J Taylor of Loughborough, being delivered to Harston Church on Friday, 18 June 1937. The cost was about £1000. A press photographer took some pictures of the Harston bells on the day of their delivery and people could buy postcards with the bell picture on or in other sizes.

Dedication – consecration of the bells

They were dedicated by the Bishop of Ely on the Sunday, 20 June 1937.

The Rev Ward wrote: “Yesterday the Bishop of Ely consecrated our bells… Probably most of you have seen the form of service of consecration used. After the blessing of water, the bells were washed and marked with a cross, with a prayer that their sound might increase the devotion of the hearers and that all evil might flee before the banner of the cross marked on them. Each bell was then consecrated….

The first ringing on a Sunday will be, as I believe, on July 4^th, and necessarily by visiting bell ringers, arranged for  by Mr C. W. Cook, who will be Captain of the Tower and help teach a band of Harston ringers.”

(August magazine) At Harston the first ringing of the bells has taken place, and also the Ringer’s Day on Saturday July 10^th, when I think about 50 ringers must have paid the tower a visit.