Today we have been learning about the bells at Southwark Cathedral. It is a very exciting time at Southwark Cathedral. During the past year, Southwark Cathedral Society of Bellringers and the Southwark Cathedral Development Trust have worked together to raise funds to restore the cathedral bells and the bells’ frame.
Some further information written by the Cathedral on this is below:
‘Since it was finally completed in the fourteenth century, the tower of the Priory of St Mary Overie, later the Parish Church of Saviour and now the Cathedral for the Diocese of Southwark, stood high above the surrounding community on the south bank of the Thames. It was the ‘Shard’ of its day, an architectural presence in this busy, congested, exciting district of London.’
‘Within the tower, bells were hung, the first ring associated with the marriage in the Priory Church of King James I of Scots to Joan Beaufort, niece of the then Bishop of Winchester, Cardinal Beaufort on 12 February 1424.’
Here are pictures of us visiting the Cathedral and viewing the bells. Father Michael very kindly took his time to tell us about the history of the bells and how they are being moved up to the belfry.
The last time the bells were brought down from the belfry was during the 1930’s. We discussed how old we might be, if we were to see the bells again!
Class 4, reply with any interesting facts that you learnt about the bells today.
The bell is called Andrew and it weighs as much as a Mini car.