An excerpt from a quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples rung at Richmond on Sunday, 6th October 2024. The bells at Richmond are an 18½cwt ring of eight, cast by a mix of founders including Robert Catlin, James Bartlet, and Lester & Pack. They produce a loud, punchy sound that is both robust and powerful. While some may describe them as clangy, I find them full of character and history - they truly represent the distinctive sound of Richmond.
The church dates back to around 1220, with significant reconstruction during the reign of Henry VII, who renamed Sheen as Richmond in 1501 after rebuilding the royal palace. The two lower sections of the tower, which survive from this period, were re-faced in 1904. Over the centuries, various additions were made, including the south aisle in the early 17th century and the north aisle in 1699. The original nave and south aisle were rebuilt in 1750, and the windows were replaced with iron frames in 1850.
In 1866, architect Arthur Blomfield replaced the plaster ceiling with timberwork, though this was criticized by Pevsner as "inappropriate." Blomfield also added new galleries and replaced the box pews with benches. In 1903-04, George Frederick Bodley replaced the chancel, added two chapels, and re-faced the tower in flint and stone. The galleries were gradually removed, with the final west gallery taken out in 1935-36.
The church is also rich in memorials and notable burials. Richard Attenborough, actor and filmmaker, is interred alongside his family members, including his daughter and granddaughter who tragically died in the 2004 tsunami. Other memorials include novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Viscount Henry Brouncker, Robert Cotton (a courtier to Elizabeth I), and philanthropist William Hickey. The famous Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean is buried here, along with a memorial inside the church, and there’s also a tribute to poet James Thomson, who wrote the lyrics to "Rule, Britannia!"
The bells themselves date between 1680 and 1761 and were re-hung in the 1980s. The tenor bell weighs just under 19 cwt. The organ, originally built in 1907 by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd, was restored in 1965 and remains an impressive feature of the church. Richmond’s rich history and its powerful ring of bells make it a unique place to ring, full of both musical and historical significance.
Tenor 18½cwt in F
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6 окт 2024
