St James's Church Bells

There are six bells hung for change-ringing at St James's Church. The earliest information for bell-ringing was in the 1553 returns when St James's was noted as having 'Great Bells' and a 'Sanctus Bell'. None of these early bells survive, all the present bells being of later dates.

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The oldest bell at present is the tenor, or largest bell with the deepest tone. The bell was cast in 1605 by James Edbury of Bury-St-Edmunds bearing the following inscription:

On the bell's waist there are three merchant's marks, possibly belonging to those benefactors who had paid for the work. It is likely that Edbury re-cast all the bells at that time but none of the others survive.

The next bell, the Fifth could not have lasted because the present bell is inscribed:

The initial 'M' before the date is generally taken to signify that this is the work of Miles Graye II of Colchester the son of Miles Graye who has been called "The Prince of Bell Founders" whose work includes the great tenor bell at Lavenham Church cast in 1625.

Next in age is the Second Bell cast by Henry Pleasant of Sudbury in 1698. In 1733 the present Third Bell was re-cast in Sudbury - most probably the work of Thomas Gardiner who had a foundry there. Further work was needed in 1789 when the present Fourth Bell was re-cast at the Whitechapel Foundry, London under the management of William and Thomas Mears.

In 1810 William Dobson cast a Treble Bell - the #1 Bell - which was probably a new one. Unfortunately, it had a poor tone and was re-cast in 1963 by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough.

By 1956 the tower was in such poor condition that ringing had to cease but following restoration in 1972 the bells were re-hung in a steel frame located at a lower level where it is hoped they can be rung for many years to come.

In addition there is a small clock bell chiming the hours. This bell, bears a date of 1764 and may have been re-cast from the old 'Sanctus Bell' of AD1522.