History of Bells at St Peter and St Paul's Church
It is generally thought that bells were introduced to churches in the west by Somerset born St Dunstan who was Abbot of Glastonbury from 945 AD and later became Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1617 the five bells recorded in this tower were re-cast in 1619 by Robert Austin at a cost of £35. Two years later they were re-cast, and re-hung again in 1638. In 1662 William Purdue re-cast and re-hung some of the bells and cast a new one increasing the peal to six. All bells except the second were re-cast yet again by Purdue in 1678.
Albert Rudhall of Gloucester increased the peal to eight bells in 1702 re-casting two of them in 1708. In 1773, Thomas Rudhall of Gloucester cast the present ring of eight bells in the key of E flat, the heaviest (the tenor) weighing just under a ton and a quarter, and with a total weight of almost five tons. Subsequently, perhaps because it was cracked, the 7th was recast by John Kingston of Bridgwater in 1822.
In 1910, the bells were re-hung on plain bearings in a cast iron and steel frame mounted on a steel grillage by Llewellins & James of Bristol. Now, nearly 100 years later, the installation is in need of substantial work, the aim of which is to:
Restore the peal of eight bells, to produce a musical instrument of high quality with a shelf life of at least 100 years
Details of the bells at Shepton Mallet
| Bell | Diameter (ins) | Weight (cwts) | Note | Date | Founder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treble | 29 | 5-2-0 | E flat | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |
| Second | 31 | 6-1-0 | D | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |
| Third | 33 | 7-2-0 | C | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |
| Fourth | 36 | 8-3-0 | B flat | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |
| Fifth | 39 | 11-1-0 | A flat | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |
| Sixth | 42 | 13-2-0 | G | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |
| Seventh | 45 | 16-3-0 | F | 1822 | John Kingston, Bridgwater |
| Tenor | 51 | 24-3-25 | E flat | 1773 | Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester |