Bells, lots of bells

In the average year there are a number of events which the Master is called on or invited to attend. Many might be described as routine Livery occasions - lunches, dinners, lectures, exhibitions etc; others are far from the ordinary. Such an occasion took place on Tuesday 3 March when the Master, the Clerk and the Clerk of the Trustees were invited to attend The Solemn Consecration of the New Ring of 12 Bells at Wren's delightful St Magnus the Martyr Church situated close to the Monument.

This service has not, we were reliably informed, been carried out in London for more years than most can remember. The story goes that the previous set of 10 bells were removed from the tower in 1940 to save that from damage. This turned out to be a wise precaution in one sense. There was damage and the bells were saved. After the War they were taken to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry (from where they had presumably originated) where they sat around until 1976. At this stage someone (and no one was naming names) decided that they were not to be rehung and should be broken up, melted down and the metal re-used on some other set of bells. Given the time, this seems to the casual observer to have been an extraordinary piece of vandalism. It was also something of an own goal as various stalwarts among the loyal congregation were also broken or perhaps cut up and mounted a campaign to have bells restored to the tower.

Not content to have just 10 as before, they went for broke and commissioned 12 from the Whitechapel Foundry. We arrived to find the bells lined up in strict order of height down the nave of the church. They were suitably dressed up in what looked suspiciously like left over Christmas decorations and so placed as to impede any sensible procession of clergy, City dignitaries and Livery Masters seeking to take their seats.

The service, presided over by the Bishop of London, took some time. There were, after all, twelve bells each of which had to be washed, anointed, baptised (all were named after saints, some of obscure origin), and incensed. This last procedure involved the wafting around of considerable quantities of incense to the accompaniment of a quite delightful rendition of 'Stedman Cinques' on Handbells rung by Past Masters of the Ancient Society of College Youths (the organization to which City Bell Ringers belong). The proceedings were interwoven with some delightful singing from the choir and clergy.

The service was followed by a reception hosted by The Lord Mayor in Mansion House and it was here that the Master, Ann Head and the two Clerks were photographed enjoying some good company. In all probability they were probably doing nothing more than expressing their relief that there had only been 12 bells!

The bells are now to be hung in the tower and will have their first outing on Easter Sunday.

The local residents - if such exist in this corner of the City - will have no excuse for sleeping in on the day.