Plain Bob Royal at St Mary, Walthamstow, Greater London

An excerpt from a quarter peal of Plain Bob Royal, rung at St Mary’s, Walthamstow on Saturday 22nd February 2025.

The bells here form a 17cwt ring of ten, cast by a range of founders across different periods. Most of the bells were cast by Pack and Chapman in 1778, while the tenor came later, cast in 1852 by Charles and George Mears. The three trebles were added in 1896 by John Warner and Sons. Though their tone is generally pleasant, the back bells are known to be a bit rough and heavy, but overall, they make for a friendly, manageable ten with a relaxed feel.

St Mary’s Church, Walthamstow, is the oldest building in Walthamstow Village, with origins dating back to the 12th century. Today, it functions as an active Church of England parish church and also serves as a vibrant community hub with a café, play area, and regular exhibitions. The church offers space for hire in both the historic building and the adjacent St Mary’s Welcome Centre, supporting a wide range of local groups and activities.

Though only the bases of some Norman pillars remain from the original structure, the church retains over 150 historic brasses and monuments, with the oldest dating to 1436. Over the centuries, the church has evolved considerably. The north and south aisles were rebuilt during the 13th and 14th centuries respectively, and the 15th century saw the addition of the west tower and the eastward extension of the chancel.

In 1535, major works were undertaken by Sir George Monoux, who rebuilt parts of the church including a chapel on the north side of the chancel. That same year, merchant Robert Thorne funded the rebuilding of the south aisle and its chapel. The church tower was also partly rebuilt at this time in Tudor brick, complete with a spiral staircase.

The 18th and 19th centuries brought internal galleries and structural alterations, including the heightening of walls and replacement of windows in the Gothic Revival style. In 1843, the nave pillars were raised and a rose window was inserted into the east end. Later 19th-century work removed private box pews and installed the current seating as a memorial to those lost in the First World War. The chancel was further extended in 1936 and a new Perpendicular-style east window added.

St Mary’s suffered bomb damage during the Second World War. In 1940, the south aisle roof was destroyed and in 1944, a bomb damaged the north tower. During post-war restoration, the organ was rebuilt and a new heating system installed. Later works in the 1960s and between 1995 and 2001 brought further updates, including the reordering of the nave, new floor space, and the uncovering and restoration of original beams beneath the bell tower.

The ten bells in the tower, seven of which came from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, were restored in 2016. The three most recent bells, cast by John Warner and Sons in 1896, were included in this comprehensive restoration project. The bells were removed through newly cut hatches and taken to John Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough for retuning and refitting. Upon return, they were rehung in their original 1896 cast iron frame, complete with sound control shutters to manage their tone during longer ringing sessions such as peals.

In 2019, the church secured a major National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to support its Creative Church project. The three point three seven million pound works began in 2021 and transformed the building. Pews were removed for more flexible use, a new gallery and entrance were added, a café with indoor and outdoor seating was created, and sound and lighting were upgraded. Heritage displays were introduced, vestries refurbished, and community activities expanded as part of the church’s dual role as a sacred and civic space.

The churchyard at St Mary’s is the largest green space in Walthamstow Village and includes several war graves from both World Wars. It is also home to the Burials in Bloom project, where local residents adopt and tend to forgotten graves. The project has earned multiple awards, including a Silver Gilt from London in Bloom in 2021 and Churchyard of the Year in 2023.

Tenor 17-1-1 in Eb

https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/14744

https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.ph...