The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-11-20 00:00:00

FORDINGTON ST. GEORGE.

On Wednesday, the 7th inst., • special peal was
rung in the belfry of the pariah ohuroh, on the
occasion of a visit paid by the Rev. H. T. ElLambe,
ma., rector of Clyst St George, Devon, to the Rev.
F. Monle. Mr. Ellsoombe is a veteran ringer of
more than tifty years standing, and may be
reckoned as one of the first authorities on all matters
relating to the miaow of campanology. He is the
author of an exoellent practical treatise, entitled
"Remarks on belfries and ringers," published by
Meson. Bell and Duddy, which ought to be in the
bands of all who are interested in this subject. Mr.
Ellacombe's visit waa, therefore, an omaition of 40
ordinary interest, and the invitation to the ringers
to meet him in the belfry met with • ready response.
They Resembled shortly alter seven o'clock, and the
1t.,. Mr. Ellsoosobe took the treble bell and con.
ducted the first peal. The second peal was conducted
by the Rev. F. Moule, the honorary foreman of the
Fordington ringers, ands variety of "whole pull" or
"call" changes, as they are termed in this part of
the country, were satisfactorily performed. After
another peal, Mr. Elleminbe again took the treble,
and the bells were "rung down under his leader-
ship. The rev, gentleman expremed himself
highly gratified with his reception in the belfry,
and with the performame of the ringere on this
interesting occasion, He particularly admired the
belfry, which was entirely thrown open to the
church by the removal of the west gallery, at the
time of the partial restoration in 1563. The bell
ropes now fall to the pavement of the tower, and are
judiciously arranged round the walls, being kept in
their places when the bells are in motion, by means
of ornamental iron guides. Mr. Eleoombe comb
dared the peal • very musical one, and the tenor bell ,
particularly line toned. On Thuraday morning he
ascended the tower, and made a minute examination
of the bells, three of which are ancient, and call for
special remark. The third and 111th are consecrated
b..11a, and aooording to. tradition in the perish, were
brought from Bindon Abbey, near Wool On the
third bell is the legend, in fine old black letter—
"Sancta Catharine, ors pro notes," and on the
fifth, "la multi, anise resume, campsite Johannis."
The fifth is also remarkable for being a "maiden"
bell, that is, cest to the required note, without
subsequent tuning. The date of these two bells
may safely be assigned to the early part of the
15th century ; they are certainly earlier than the
beautiful tower in which they bang, the date of
which is about 1460. The tenor bell, which was
the fourth of the old peal of five, bears the
date 1602, with the legend "No Gains
like Codlines, " and
_underneath, " It. K.
. _ _

Jen-tel.msn." The initials K. IC. are oOnaidered to
-
be those of Renaldo Knapton, an ancestor of the
Ronald° Knapton who lies buried in the chancel of
Fordington °batch, and whom 1734 appears to have
been a great benefactor to St Peters belhi. His
name appears in full on the fifth and tenor bells of
that church. Mr. Ellacombe coasidered the ball
archeology of Fordington tower to be of a highly
interesting character, mid before leaving the be
chamber he bad furnished himself with accurate
rubbings of the inscriptions, and with impressions of
the shields and other devices. His visit will be long
rtmembered. and will, it is hoped, give • sreat
stimulus to Simplot/AM. of change-ringing at Fording.
ton. It is remarkable that while scientific or "half.
change-ringing is carried to great perfection
In the northern and eastern counties, it is still,
exoeptang at Bristol, Aimee unknown in the west.