Orston
St Mary

Bells

The Churchwardens’ account book (1686-1789) contains item after item of expenditure of the steeple, the bells, the clock and the porch. The belfry used to contain four bells that were increased to six when they were renewed. They were rehung by Gillett and Johnston in a cast iron H frame and increased to six at a cost of £388 by public subscription in 1923. All the bells are on cast-iron headstocks with ball bearings.

The order and inscriptions are as follows:

  Inscription Size Weight

1.

Gillett & Johnston, Croyden, 1923 (G) 

24.375" 

3.0.1

2.

Waist:
1914-1918.
In memory of those who fell,
I call to prayer and praise 1923.

27"

4.0.0

3.

[+34] God save the Church 1621 [40]

28.625" 

4.0.19

4.

(i) [+34] God save the church ovr Queene & realm & send bs peace in Christ.
 (ii) [118]  1599  [40]  

30.75"

4.3.5

5.

(i) God save his church. Motley W Bronson. Churchwardens 1730. 
(ii) [50]  

33.375"

6.2.19

6.

 Waist:

All ye who hear my mournful sound
repent before you lie in ground. 
Recast by GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDEN 1923 (G)

37.375" 

9.1.18

Bells 1, 2 and the tenor are by Gilletts and were cast without canons. The 3rd is by Henry III Oldfield, while the 4th is by his father, Henry II Oldfield, and was unique from being the only bell with an ampersand mark in the following inscription, by the Oldfields.

The old tenor was inscribed:

'All men that heare my mornful sound repent before you lye in ground 1622 [40] 35.75" '

The founders mark was like badge 40, but with the h and O filed off.

The 5th bell is a very late bell by William Noone.

At the Edward VI inventory in 1552 there were three 'great' bells and a sanctus bell.