DEDICATION - Hungerford Virtual Museum

THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT LAWRENCE
HUNGERFORD
DEDICATION
of the new ring of eight Bells
SUNDAY, 16th JULY 1978 at 11 a.m.
by the Very Reverend Sydney Hall Evans, C.B.E.
(Dean of Salisbury Cathedral)

A message of greeting from the Bishop of Reading :-
THE BELLS OF HUNGERFORD
I am delighted to know that all the work on the bells has been so satisfactorily completed,
and I congratulate all concerned on a splendid effort, not least on raising £10,000 so quickly.
I hope that these bells will now ring out loud and clear, and frequently, to let the citizens of
Hungerford know that the Church is about its proper business. Bells are meant to summon
people to meet together and worship God - so, get ringing!
>%4 Eric Reading
Some of St Lawrence's Church bellringers 1978 (Tower Captain Robert Grange on Vicar's left)
THE BELLS OF ST LAWRENCE'S CHURCH
The ancient town of Hungerford, on the Berkshire-Wiltshire borders, stands astride the
London-Bristol coaching road (now known by the prosaic title A4) and the Great Western
Railway. To the fisherman the River Kennet with its excellent trout fishing will always provide
an attraction. To the traveller along the London road the first sight of Hungerford
from the west is the fine church tower, a landmark beside the Kennet and Avon Canal,
standing a little apart from the town centre, overlooking the open countryside of Freemans
Marsh.
The present church has been standing for little more than a century and a half and is
known to have had two predecessors on the same site. In 1811 the church, having fallen into
disrepair, was demolished and in its place the present building was erected to the design of
Mr Pinch of Bath. The building was completed in 1816, in Georgian Gothic style, with
stone from Bath (the first commercial cargo to travel on the newly opened canal).

From the 1552 inventory we are informed that there were three bells and a sanctus bell at
Hungerford. At least one bell - 'A Treble Bell' - was added by Godwin Baker in 1607 and
by 1667 it seems that there were five bells as the 'fourth bell' and the 'tenor wheel' were
entered in the Churchwardens' Accounts. Subsequent entries record that the tenor bell was
recast by Samuel Knight at Reading in 1698 and again by Henry Bagley at Witney in 1736.
Other interesting items from the Churchwardens' Accounts include :-
'1706 Gave the ringers for ringing on ye news cf the Duke of Marlborough's victory -
4s.0d.'
'1736 Gave ye men in Beere for helping take down ye Bell and putting up - ISs.Od.'
'1736 for Casting ye Sts Bell 63pd weight at 6d per pound - £l.lls.6d; for 7pd of new
metal added- 7 s.7d.'
In 1812 an order was made to James Wells of the neighbouring village of Aldbourne to
recast the old ring of five into a ring of six with a tenor of 15cwt. These bells were cast in 1816
and hung in the new tower in two tiers. (Mr Wells's estimate cf 1812 for the complete ring
and all fittings amounted to £251.0s.0d.!) The tenor was in fact recast in 1830 by Thomas
Mears II and in 1847 the present sanctus bell was cast by William Taylor at Oxford. Two
trebles were added in 1927 and the complete octave hung in a cast iron side frame on one
level by Mears and Stainbank, with a tenor of 13-2-3 in the key of F. Since then the bells
have received comparatively little attention, although they have been rung regularly.
Following advice from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the decision to recast the bells into
a lighter ring of eight was approved by the Parochial Church Council in December 1977. A
major factor was concern about stress on the tower fabric, following architect's inspection
and renovation work on the tower pinnacles that year. The fund-raising campaign was
launched in February 1978 and within ten weeks donors had been found for all bells! Over
£600 was raised for this by a 'sponsored knit' one evening by the ladies' organisations of the
town.
On Sunday 23rd April 1978 the old ring of eight were rung for the last time and were
dismantled the following week. The lowering cf the bells was undertaken by local engineers
and contractors Messrs Shellabear Price in one day and the bells were driven at dawn the
next day to Whitechapel by Messrs Rawling James and Phillips cf Hungerford. In the
succeeding three weeks the frame was cleaned down, primed, undercoated and painted by
the Ringers, who in turn visited the Bell Foundry on 24th May to witness the casting of the
new eight bells. Those who were present at Whitechapel that day report that it was a
moving and splendid occasion!
Not only have the Ringers themselves raised the money for one bell; they have also saved
up to £2,000 of the total cost of nearly £10,000 by assisting with the dismantling of the old
bells and by providing labour to assist the Bellhanger on the return of the bells. The whole
scheme has taken place within a remarkably short time. Indeed, the new bells will be hung
and dedicated twelve weeks to the day from the last ring on the old bells! This would not
have been possible without the close co-operation, the remarkably efficiency and expertise of
the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, who have produced a delightful, new and light ring cf eight
which we hope will peal out from our tower for many centuries.
Robert N. Grange
(Hungerford Tower Captain)
with grateful acknowledgement to
C.J. Pickford for historical information and
extracts from the Churchwardens' Accounts

April 26th 1978 - dismantling the old bells
Mr Peter Da vies (in helmet) with staff of Shellabear Price Ltd
Number two bell reaches terra firma and staff of R.H.M. Ltd

THE ORDER OF SERVICE
1. Light's abode, celestial Salem,
Vision whence true peace doth spring,
Brighter than the heart can fancy,
Mansion of the Highest King;
Oh, how glorious are the praises
Which of thee the prophets sing!
2. There for ever and for ever
Alleluia is outpoured;
For unending, for unbroken
Is the feast-day of the Lord;
All is pure and all is holy
That within thy walls is stored.
3. Now with gladness, now with courage,
Bear the burden on thee laid,
That hereafter these thy labours
May with endless gifts be paid;
And in everlasting glory
Thou with brightness be arrayed.
4. Laud and honour to the Father,
Laud and honour to the Son,
Laud and honour to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One,
Consubstantial, Co-eternal,
While unending ages run.
The welcome by the Vicar and the Bidding to Worship
The First Reading: 1st Book of Chronicles, chapter 16 verses 23-34
JUBILATE DEO-
O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness and come before his
presence with a song.
Be ye sure that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and net we ourselves; we
are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful
unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation
to generation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
The Second Reading: The Epistle to the Romans, chapter 12 verses 6-13, and The Epistle
to the Philippians, chapter 4 verses 4-9.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord:
unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
2. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name:
make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name, the Lord, the Mighty One.
3. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might:
powers and dominions lay their glory by;
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
4. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word:
firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and for evermore.

THE APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his
only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick
and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The
Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.
THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING-
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble
and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; We bless
thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine
inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of
grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy
mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we show forth thy praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking
before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to
whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
(During the next hymn the Churchwardens, Tower Captain, Vicar and Dean move to the
west end of the church.)
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Raasom'd, heal'd, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.
2. Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise Him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.
3. Father-like, He tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frame He knows;
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows.
THE DEDICATION and CHARGE now follow, the congregation turning to face the west:
The Dean will pray -
Almighty God, creator of beauty and upholder of truth, you have called us to worship
you and have given us differing gifts to offer in response to your call; we offer hearty thanks
this day for the gift of harmony in the world of nature, in our own lives, and especially in
the music of bells in churches and cathedrals of our land. We offer the skill of ringers, the
art of bellfounders, the generosity and devotion of donors to the bells of this parish churcl.
Help us to use these gifts to your honour and glory, that we may continue to call others
through the coming years to worship you, the One, unchanging God. AMEN.

IN THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, WE NOW DEDICATE AND BLESS THE NEW
BELLS OF SAINT LAWRENCE'S CHURCH TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE
SERVICE OF HIS PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH. MAY THEY NOW RESOUND TO
HIS PRAISE AND MAY OUR HEARTS BE UPLIFTED TO WORSHIP AND TO
REJOICE IN THE NAME AND THE LOVE OF GOD OUR FATHER, HIS SON
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
The Dean hands the Tower Captain a coiled bellrope, with the words: .
On behalf of the Church of God, I congratulate you as Tower Captain this day and
charge you to uphold the dignity and responsibility of your office by executing faithfully
the charge thus committed to you. Will you do all in your power to fulfil this charge ?
Tower Captain: I WILL, WITH THE HELP OF GOD.
The Dean addresses the congregation:
As members of this parish community, will you do all in your power faithfully to answer
the call to worship rung out by these bells, joining with thankful hearts in continual praise
of the Lord your God?
CONGREGATION: WE WILL, WITH THE HELP OF GOD.
(all now turn to face east again)
Angels in the height, adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Saints triumphant, bow before Him,
Gathered in from every race!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
The bells are now rung, the congregation remaining standing to offer silent prayer of
thanksgiving. After the bells have been rung, the Vicar will invite all present to express
heartfelt adoration and trust in God in the words of
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
THE ADDRESS by the Very Reverend Sydney Hall Evans CBE
Dean of Salisbury Cathedral
(During the next hymn a collection will be taken and offered in thanksgiving for the Ministry
of the Church in our parish.)
1. All my hope on God is founded; 3. God's great goodness aye endureth,
he doth still my trust renew.
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
Me through change and chance he guideth, Splendour, light, and life attend him
only good and only true.
beauty springeth out of naught.
God unknown,
Evermore
He alone
From his store
Calls my heart to be his own.
New-born worlds rise and adore.
2. Pride of man and earthly glory, 4. Daily doth the Almighty Giver
sword and crown betray his trust;
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
What with care and toil he buildeth, His desire our soul delighteth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
pleasure leads us where we go.
But God's power,
Love doth stand
Hour by hour,
At his hand;
Is my temple and my tower.
Joy doth wait on his command.

THE BLESSING
5. Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
High above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
One and all:
Ye who follow shall not fall.
The congregation is invited to pause outside (weather permitting) to take refreshment and
to enjoy the ringing of the bells.
A WORD OF THANKS ...
Although words are inadequate to express our deep gratitude to the many donors to
Hungerford Bell Fund Appeal 1978, we do here affirm how thankful we are for such generosity
by the people and organisations in and connected with the parish. To have achieved the
target in ten weeks, with your gifts and pledges, is something for which I thank God with a
sense of pride and humility.
We are especially grateful to Dennis Cryer and the staff of Messrs Brading Barber, and to
Robert Grange, for the enormous amount of work they contributed to the fund-raising.
The complete enthusiasm and quiet confidence with which Dennis and Robert set about
what many would have considered an over-daunting task ensured that there was never any
real doubt about the outcome of the appeal.
We list later donors to the appeal, as known at the time of going to press. Inevitably the
burden was lifted considerably by the generosity of those who so magnificently offered to
donate a bell. This left us with the cost of fittings and allied work connected with the
casting, inscribing, hanging and tuning of the bells, and what we loosely termed 'topping up'
costs on certain bells, to be met from the rest of the fund. Donors of individual bells are
denoted by, in most cases, the bells' inscriptions (listed in this booklet). They are -
The Ringers, Hungerford Round Table, Dr and Mrs R. Kennedy, The Board of Directors
on behalf of Norland Nursery Training College, The Trustees and Commoners of the Town
and Manor of Hungerford and the Manor and Liberty of Sanden Fee, The Lord Rootes,
The Businesses and Industries of Hungerford, The Churchwardens on behalf of Hungerford
Church Charity Trust, The Ladies' Organisations of Hungerford. To all these, a simple,
utter, 'THANK YOV\"
Of the invaluable contributions which enabled the total target of the appeal to be realised
by consolidating on the gifts of these donors, many were anonymous. These at this moment
known to us are recorded but without attributing the amount given. They are listed
in no particular order since to do so would pose an invidious task. ALL gifts - from the
children's pennies to the amazingly generous sums by certain individuals - are here acknowledged
with unqualified thanks. You know what you gave, we have it recorded, the Church
and parish is helped by your gift and we thank you for the spirit in which you gave.
To any who at any time might ask about the loyal commitment to the community by its
members, I would simply point to this appeal and to our church tower. The answer is there
and I, for one, count it a great privilege to serve such a splendid community!
Richard Kingsbury
Vicar

Meanwhile at Eddington . . .
The old bell from St Saviour's Church is removed by Hylift (Newbury) Ltd - with apologies to roadusers
delayed by consequent traffic jam!
,

A view of the new church in 1821, from a prin t by Mr Dickinson of New Bond Street.
(This poem, by a local resident of Hungerford, was written when the bells had been removed
to Whitechapel to be recast)
THE MISSING BELLS
Sunday morning around the Marsh
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A pleasant morning all I ask
2 1 4 3 6 5 8 7
On hard and frosty winter days
2 4 1 6 3 8 5 7
Fine hoar frost patterns line the ways
4 2 6 1 8 3 7 5
Through silent mist the Church half seen
4 6 2 8 1 7 3 5
Pinnacles looming high serene
6 4 8 2 7 1 5 3
The tower is empty no Bells there
6 8 4 7 2 5 1 3
We mourn the loss I do declare
8 6 7 4 5 2 3 1
No Bellcadenza in the air
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Time will tell when all eight rehung
A time for joy when they are rung
Then back to normal sights and sounds
When I and others stroll around

Will they be hung for the summer scene
Trees all mantled the grass so green
Hedgerows all filled with bright wild flowers
Sunny banks and shady Bowers?
The river Dun flows smoothly by
With deeps and shoals that please the Eye
The moorhens dabchicks ducks and geese
The avian marsh is still a feast
Kingfishers with their lightening darts
Flushing dives of bright hued art
Un-numbered wild birds there as well
But no faint accolade of Bell
Cattle standing or grazing choose
The river bank and thick black ooze
Flicking at flies with ears and tails
But in all weathers hard as nails
These marsh sights ever seen
Sounds of the rushing rippling stream
The thump of water in the lock
You can just hear the Town Hall clock
Tractors roaring on distant farm
Train noise and traffic split the calm
Mixed calls of birds and children play
No changes of peal are heard today.
Draidil
June 24th 1978 -the new ring of eight prior to bellhanging !

Inscriptions on the new ring of eight:
Weight Diameter Note
TREBLE
"GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO"
THE GIFT OF THE RINGERS
ROBERT GRANGE TOWER CAPTAIN
3-3-0 2'0f"
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
"ADOP ADAPT IMPROVE"
THE GIFT OF HUNGERFORD ROUND TABLE
3-3-24 2'If
"IN TERRA ANGLICA VIRIDI ET AMOENA"
IN MEMORY OF BRUCE WARING SMITH
1894-1976
4-0-12 2'2f
"PER ARDUA AD ASTRA" Old inscription on
IN LOVING MEMORY OF NIGEL reverse of Bell
THE GIFT OF
THE NORLAND NURSERY TRAINING COLLEGE
5-0-12 2'4| D
"CANTATE DOMINO CANTICUM NOVUM"
THE GIFT OF
THE TRUSTEES AND COMMONERS
OF THE TOWN AND MANOR OF HUNGERFORD
AND
THE MANOR AND LIBERTY OF SANDEN FEE
HUGH ADRIAN GEORGE HASSALL CONSTABLE
6-0-24 2'7"
"PRORSUM IN FUTURUM"
THE GIFT OF THE LORD ROOTES
6-3-24 2'8"
"VENITE EXULTEMUS DOMINO"
THE GIFT OF THE BUSINESSES AND
INDUSTRIES OF HUNGERFORD
DENNIS CRYER P.C.C. TREASURER
9-0-12 3'0"
B
TENOR
"PAX VOBISCUM"
DEDICATED IN THE 25th YEAR
OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
RICHARD KINGSBURY B.A. VICAR
RONALD TALBOT \ CHUKCH
CHTTRCHWARDENS
DAVID BRADY /
12-1-8 3'4"
THE NEW SANCTUS BELL (weight approximately Ifcwt) - given by the Ladies'
Organisations of Hungerford, Mary Talbot, M.U. Enrolling Member.
(To be dedicated at a special ceremony later).

Donations have been received from:
Admiral Sir Reginald H. Portal
Mr O.K. Smith
Mr Laxton
Mr and Mrs Frankum
DrH.andMrsPihlens
Mr and Mrs J. Williamson
Mrs K. Allen
Mrs J. Brittain
Mrs E. Midwinter
Mr and Mrs Cloke
Mr G. &. P. Gibbs and Mr Bailey
Dr R. and Mrs Kennedy
and Mrs O.P. Waring Smith
Mrs A.Y. Eaton
Mrs M. Sopp
Mrs D. Durant
Major and Mrs Hathway
MrG.Grubb
Mr and Mrs M. Hotchkiss
Mrs Volz and Mrs V. Hart
Mr and Mrs Low and Mrs Comyn
Mr and Mrs R. Frearson
Davidson Industries Ltd
MrandMrsH.Tilley
Mrs E.M.Clark
Misses M. and G. Nicol
Messrs R.H.M. Ltd
Miss Yates
Mrs Skipper
Mrs A. Mills
Mr and Mrs W. Dennis
Mr and Mrs D. Whiscombe
Mr and Mrs E.P. Spackman
Mr and Mrs R. Scott
I. and A. Adair
Mr and Mrs H. Liddiard
Mrs V.M. Gibbons
Miss Sabbiton
Mrs A.L. Martin
Mrs M. Scrase
Mr and Mrs T. Lambourne
Mrs Baggaley
National Westminster Bank Ltd
Mr and Mrs D. Harris
Mrs Caswell
Mr A. Kempster
Miss Little
Mr and Mrs H. Holmes
Mr and Mrs F. Fisher
Oakes Bros Ltd
Federated Homes Ltd
The Lord Fermoy
Mr and Mrs J.C. Williams
The Lord Howard de Walden
Mr and Mrs Amphlett
Top of Town Quiz (c/o Miss Oakes and
Mrs Chinn)
Mr and Mrs M.S. Fraser (Ceiling Designs)
Miss J. Nicol
Mr and Mrs A.H. Holland
Mr and Mrs D. Simmonds
Mr Earl
Mr M. Caine
Mrs R. Connor
Mr J. Armstrong
Miss E. Saddleton
Mr and Mrs Stirland (snr)
Dr and Mrs Anthony
Mrs E.T. Razey
Hungerford Ecumenical Sunday School
Mr and Mrs Robert Grange
Mrs G.E. Pratt
Mr F. Hoare and Mrs Cox
Lloyds Bank Ltd
Mr G. Harvey and the Misses Harvey
Normans Garage Ltd
Barclays Bank Ltd
Mr and Mrs D.J. Brady
Mrs LA. Smith
Mr E. Beresford-Huey
Ottermill Chilton Ltd
Mr and Mrs A. Bartter
The Dean and Canons of St George's, Windsor
Messrs R. and J. King and Miss King
Charles Lucas and Marshall
Mr C. Pepper
Messrs A.W. Neate and Sons
Mr and Mrs D. Brown
Mrs Choules
Mr and Mrs A. Goss
Holly Finance (Mr and Mrs N. James,
Mr and Mrs D. James)
Mr and Mrs C. Harris
Mrs Reeves (Wantage)
Mr and Mrs H. Fradgley
Miss S. Fradgley
Revd J. Kendall
Mr and Mrs L. Griffiths
Hungerford Brownies
Mrs Holford
Loheat Ltd (Mr and Mrs A. Billington)
Mr W. Galloway
Mrs G.M. Penfold (Sussex)
Mrs P. Haycock
Mr and Mrs Littleboy
Mr and Mrs Levy
Mrs Barham (Sussex)
The Ladies' Organisations of Hungerford
(£600+ via Sponsored Knit)
The Lady Troup
Miss J. Beard
Miss W. Parris
Mr and Mrs I. Tucker
Mr and Mrs G.H. Peters
Messrs C. Bodman & Co (Mr and Mrs H. Dopson
and Miss Holland)
The Lord Rootes
Mr and Mrs D. Crosswell
Hungerford Royal British Legion
Mr Geo. Parker
Mr and Mrs John Newton
Mr P. Wyatt
Ladybird Club
Mrs B. Tolladay
Mrs E. Smith
Mr J. Simson
Ramsbury Building Society
and many anonymous donors.
(If inadvertantly we have omitted or incorrectly
named any donors, we present our sincere apologies
for this oversight).

The Ramsbury Building Society
congratulates
the Parish Church of St. Lawrence
on the Dedication of the new Bells.
Together we have served the local
community for over a century
and a half.
RAMSBURY
BUILDING SOCIETY
THIRD OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY
HEAD OFFICE :
THE SQUARE, RAMSBURY, WILTSHIRE
hpw