St Thomas the Martyr, Thomas Lane, BS1 6JG
Bell Weight Note Diam Date Founder Source
1/8 8-1-15 D+7 33.11 1756 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
2/8 8-3-5 C#-2 33.89 1756 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
3/8 9-2-0 B-60 36.73 1743 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
4/8 10-2-23 A-50 38.5 1627 Roger I Purdue DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
5/8 12-2-24 G-23 42.64 c1425 John Gosselin DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
6/8 17-0-20 F#-46 44.17 c1480 Richard Thomas DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
7/8 19-0-19 E-57 48.5 1666 Roger II Purdue DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
8/8 27-3-25 D-36 54.88 1894 Llewellins & James DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
Sanctus 1-2-x B 18 1764 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
Previously
8/8 28-0-x D 53 1666 Roger II Purdue Recast 1894 DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
Tenor unringable due to headstock/wheel issues
SR: none
PN: none
Steps: 50
1/8 8-1-15 D+7 33.11 1756 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
2/8 8-3-5 C#-2 33.89 1756 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
3/8 9-2-0 B-60 36.73 1743 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
4/8 10-2-23 A-50 38.5 1627 Roger I Purdue DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
5/8 12-2-24 G-23 42.64 c1425 John Gosselin DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
6/8 17-0-20 F#-46 44.17 c1480 Richard Thomas DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
7/8 19-0-19 E-57 48.5 1666 Roger II Purdue DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
8/8 27-3-25 D-36 54.88 1894 Llewellins & James DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
Sanctus 1-2-x B 18 1764 Thomas I Bilbie DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
Previously
8/8 28-0-x D 53 1666 Roger II Purdue Recast 1894 DLC, NWB 1/5/1986
Tenor unringable due to headstock/wheel issues
SR: none
PN: none
Steps: 50
Saturday 17 July 1852 Bristol Mercury
CHANGE RINGING.- On Monday last eight change ringers, members of the St. Mary Redcliff Company of this city being in favour of free-trade and progressive reform, ascended the steeple of St. Thomas, where there is a Liberal churchwarden, and rang a full and complete peal of union treble bobs, consisting of 5120 changes, in three hours and 52 minutes to celebrate the banishment of protection for ever from our city. The ringers were stationed as follows:- James Seamen, treble; W. T. Merrifeld, 2nd; W. Davis, 3rd; W. Huish, 4th; John Cummins, 5th; D. Allen, 6th; E. Fisher, 7th; and William Plummer, tenor; The 5th and 6th 'bells' were brought home twenty-four times right, and twenty-four times wrong with the Kent- variations throughout the whole peal. Weight of tenor 40 cwt. The peal was ably conducted by Mr. William Huish.
CHANGE RINGING.- On Monday last eight change ringers, members of the St. Mary Redcliff Company of this city being in favour of free-trade and progressive reform, ascended the steeple of St. Thomas, where there is a Liberal churchwarden, and rang a full and complete peal of union treble bobs, consisting of 5120 changes, in three hours and 52 minutes to celebrate the banishment of protection for ever from our city. The ringers were stationed as follows:- James Seamen, treble; W. T. Merrifeld, 2nd; W. Davis, 3rd; W. Huish, 4th; John Cummins, 5th; D. Allen, 6th; E. Fisher, 7th; and William Plummer, tenor; The 5th and 6th 'bells' were brought home twenty-four times right, and twenty-four times wrong with the Kent- variations throughout the whole peal. Weight of tenor 40 cwt. The peal was ably conducted by Mr. William Huish.
16 March 1895 p.516 Bell News
ST. THOMAS’ BELLS, BRISTOL . On Sunday evening, February 24th, the Assistant-Bishop of the diocese very kindly consented to preach on the occasion of the first ringing of the above bells after they had been rehung. It has not been possible to ring the bells for some years past, as the fittings, of an antiquated type, were worn out, the seventh bell had lost its clapper, and the tenor bell was broken. The tenor bell has been recast, the other seven bells have been turned, and one quarter-turned, and the fittings have been entirely renewed. A chiming apparatus has also been provided for use before service. The old oak frame, which was found to be in sound condition, has been retained. The peal is a very interesting one. The tenor, which bad been previously recast in 1590 and 1666, weighs 28 cwt.; the only bells in Bristol which are heavier being the two heaviest at St. Mary Redcliff, and the two tenor bells at St. James and St. Nicholas. The sixth bell bears the inscription: • 'Sancta Anna,” and the fifth is inscribed “ Sancta Maria ora pro nobis.” These two bells are of course of pre-Reformation date. The remaining bells were cast in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the Sanctus bell was recast in 1764. The wardens’ accounts record the pealing of the bells on many occasions, from the coronation of Queen Mary in 1553, and the first anniversary of the detection of the Gunpowder Plot in 1606, onwards; including the battles of Dunbar, Culloden, Cape St. Vincent, and a whole series of Peninsular victories, concluding with Waterloo; the sea-fight off Harwich in 1665, when Sir William Penn, who had been baptized in this church in 1621, commanded under the Duke of York ; and the capture of Quebec in 1763. More peaceful occasions were the proclamation of the Lord Protector Oliver in 1657, of the Lord Protector Richard in 1658, and of the King in 1660; Mr. Colston’s funeral in 1721; when Bishop Butler preached at the church in 1739 ; the thanksgiving for peace in 1814, and Princes Victoria’s birthday in 1837. The cost of the work, including some necessary repairs to the tower, will be about £300, making a total sum spent on the fabric and fittings of the church since 1878 of about £5500. It is hoped that before very long the vestry will be able to undertake the repairs of the beautiful tower, when the restoration of the church will be complete. The restoration of the bells was effectively carried out by Messrs. Llewellins and James, Bell Founders, Bristol.
ST. THOMAS’ BELLS, BRISTOL . On Sunday evening, February 24th, the Assistant-Bishop of the diocese very kindly consented to preach on the occasion of the first ringing of the above bells after they had been rehung. It has not been possible to ring the bells for some years past, as the fittings, of an antiquated type, were worn out, the seventh bell had lost its clapper, and the tenor bell was broken. The tenor bell has been recast, the other seven bells have been turned, and one quarter-turned, and the fittings have been entirely renewed. A chiming apparatus has also been provided for use before service. The old oak frame, which was found to be in sound condition, has been retained. The peal is a very interesting one. The tenor, which bad been previously recast in 1590 and 1666, weighs 28 cwt.; the only bells in Bristol which are heavier being the two heaviest at St. Mary Redcliff, and the two tenor bells at St. James and St. Nicholas. The sixth bell bears the inscription: • 'Sancta Anna,” and the fifth is inscribed “ Sancta Maria ora pro nobis.” These two bells are of course of pre-Reformation date. The remaining bells were cast in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the Sanctus bell was recast in 1764. The wardens’ accounts record the pealing of the bells on many occasions, from the coronation of Queen Mary in 1553, and the first anniversary of the detection of the Gunpowder Plot in 1606, onwards; including the battles of Dunbar, Culloden, Cape St. Vincent, and a whole series of Peninsular victories, concluding with Waterloo; the sea-fight off Harwich in 1665, when Sir William Penn, who had been baptized in this church in 1621, commanded under the Duke of York ; and the capture of Quebec in 1763. More peaceful occasions were the proclamation of the Lord Protector Oliver in 1657, of the Lord Protector Richard in 1658, and of the King in 1660; Mr. Colston’s funeral in 1721; when Bishop Butler preached at the church in 1739 ; the thanksgiving for peace in 1814, and Princes Victoria’s birthday in 1837. The cost of the work, including some necessary repairs to the tower, will be about £300, making a total sum spent on the fabric and fittings of the church since 1878 of about £5500. It is hoped that before very long the vestry will be able to undertake the repairs of the beautiful tower, when the restoration of the church will be complete. The restoration of the bells was effectively carried out by Messrs. Llewellins and James, Bell Founders, Bristol.
Click the link below to view The Ringing World article Though Thomas Did Doubt by Wilf Harris
Matthews, J - 1825 - Bristol Guide The City Of Bristol, Hotwells & Clifton.
The ancient tower being judged strong enough, is left ; it is large, square, built of hewn stone, has railing on the top, a gilded cock highly elevated in the middle, and contains a deep grand old peal of eight bells, on the tenor of which is struck the hour.
The ancient tower being judged strong enough, is left ; it is large, square, built of hewn stone, has railing on the top, a gilded cock highly elevated in the middle, and contains a deep grand old peal of eight bells, on the tenor of which is struck the hour.