Chichester, Former Church of All Saints
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Inscriptions
About the Bells
1 Bell
Chichester All Saints had a single bell, hung in an A frame at the west end.
The earliest record of the church is in the Domesday Book, although it is listed under the Archbishop's estate of Pagham.
Most of the current church dates to the 13th century, though the earliest mention of bells is 1523. It is without a doubt that there were bells here before then.
On May 9th, 1523, a bequest was made towards the parish clerke to ring the bells yearly in remembrance of them.
1523, May 9 "to the parysh clerke yerely for ryngyng"
Another bequest a few years later refers to what I believe is the waste of bell rope.
1530 - 40, Feb. 22. “To the chirche wardens for the wast of the bell ropes xijd"
There may have been more than one bell at this time.
On June 13th 1783, the wardens recorded the pews as being "very old, ruinous and out of repair and not convenient."
Sadly, this resulted in the loss of 2 of the 3 bells, for they were sold off as the spire was too weak to support them. These were likely the 2 tenors.
These bells were hung in a timber tower. It had a tall spire which was removed in 1805.
Chichester All Saints had a single bell, hung in an A frame at the west end.
The earliest record of the church is in the Domesday Book, although it is listed under the Archbishop's estate of Pagham.
Most of the current church dates to the 13th century, though the earliest mention of bells is 1523. It is without a doubt that there were bells here before then.
On May 9th, 1523, a bequest was made towards the parish clerke to ring the bells yearly in remembrance of them.
1523, May 9 "to the parysh clerke yerely for ryngyng"
Another bequest a few years later refers to what I believe is the waste of bell rope.
1530 - 40, Feb. 22. “To the chirche wardens for the wast of the bell ropes xijd"
There may have been more than one bell at this time.
On June 13th 1783, the wardens recorded the pews as being "very old, ruinous and out of repair and not convenient."
Sadly, this resulted in the loss of 2 of the 3 bells, for they were sold off as the spire was too weak to support them. These were likely the 2 tenors.
These bells were hung in a timber tower. It had a tall spire which was removed in 1805.
In 1842, the church considered removing this tower and replacing it with an A frame. At the same time, they also considered replacing the bell if thought desirable.
"to consider removal of the present wooden belfry and the substitution of an open turret of stone, and likewise to exchange the present bell if thought desirable by the churchwardens"
It appears that both of these were carried out for an A frame was constructed, and Tyssen records the inscription in The Church Bells of Sussex followed by "(Modern black letter)". Unfortunately, there is no record of who cast it, but it may have been by Thomas II Mears.
"to consider removal of the present wooden belfry and the substitution of an open turret of stone, and likewise to exchange the present bell if thought desirable by the churchwardens"
It appears that both of these were carried out for an A frame was constructed, and Tyssen records the inscription in The Church Bells of Sussex followed by "(Modern black letter)". Unfortunately, there is no record of who cast it, but it may have been by Thomas II Mears.
The bell measured around 18" in diameter, and was strapped to a wooden headstock by the means of a conventional canon. It was chimed by a lever on plain bearings.
It bore the inscription:
O ye Spirits and Souls of the righteous bless ye the Lord
with an initial cross at the beginning.
This quote comes from the Bendicite.
In 1904, it was replaced with a very similar A frame. The contract was awarded to Henry Steel of Emsworth for £55, to remove the old belfry and erect a new one using Boxground stone.
He produced a drawing in colour to show what it would look like.
It bore the inscription:
O ye Spirits and Souls of the righteous bless ye the Lord
with an initial cross at the beginning.
This quote comes from the Bendicite.
In 1904, it was replaced with a very similar A frame. The contract was awarded to Henry Steel of Emsworth for £55, to remove the old belfry and erect a new one using Boxground stone.
He produced a drawing in colour to show what it would look like.
The church was used for worship until 1971, and sadly the bell was lost.
For some years, the church was used as the Red Cross' offices.
It is now owned by a private company.
For some years, the church was used as the Red Cross' offices.
It is now owned by a private company.
Inscriptions:
Tyssen Gives:
1 |
+ O ye Spirits and Souls of the righteous bless ye the Lord |
Photographs:
https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/chichester-all-saints-in-the-pallant/
The Five Little Churches of Chichester by Alan Green
Church Surveys of Chichester Archdeaconry 1602, 1610 & 1636 by Joan Barham & Andrew Foster.
Sussex Record Society, Volume 41.
The Five Little Churches of Chichester by Alan Green
Church Surveys of Chichester Archdeaconry 1602, 1610 & 1636 by Joan Barham & Andrew Foster.
Sussex Record Society, Volume 41.
