St Mary Magdalene
New Bells for Richmond
raised of £220,000 target
We're Half Way There
The bells of St Mary Magdalene, Richmond have rung out their last Christmas. Fund raising for a new set of bells passed the half-way point in December and in January 2026 the order for five new bells was placed. We expect the old bells will be taken out of the tower in the summer and the new ones will go in before the end of the year.
The Richmond ringers are immensely grateful for every contribution as they enter the next stage of their campaign.
The target is £200,000 and if that is surpassed it will be possible to refurbish the ringing room and restore the historic peal boards that record ringing feats going back to the 18th century.
New bells are needed because the old ones are mostly clapped out. Happily, the three oldest bells, cast in 1680, are the best quality in the tower so that link to history will survive as they retain their place alongside five new ones to produce a more tuneful ring of eight.
The new bells will be made by Royal Eijsbouts, the world’s largest foundry, at their works in Asten, Holland. This is the company that made the Olympic bell for the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 6-ton bell Marie, made to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
Crucially, the new bells will be easier to ring, giving learners the opportunity to flourish so that St Mary Magdalene can play its part in securing the art of ringing for centuries to come.
A Foothold in the Future
- Febuary 2026 -
New Vicar Arrives
To the Sound of Bells
Robert Stanier meets Richmond ringers Jackie Harrison and Thomas Ashwin-Siejkowski
Richmond bell ringers welcomed their new vicar with a set of eight-bell ringing on Sunday evening, 22nd February.
Not only did the ringers provide some well struck call changes, the service included chimes on the treble by the Rev’d Robert Stanier as part of his formal Induction.
After the service, Robert met some of Richmond ringers and was briefed by tower captain Jackie Harrison on the progress of fund raising to replace St Mary’s bells. It is expected that the old bells will come out of the tower in June and the new ones will be installed before Christmas.
Richmond’s new vicar and team rector is not a ringer but he said he was interested in coming to a practice night to try his rope skills.
Visit our Crowdfunder page: #NewBellsForRichmond
- January 2026 -
Richard E Grant Backs New Bells
Distinguished actor and local resident Richard E Grant is supporting New Bells for Richmond. Smiling through the winter weather, he stopped by St Mary Magdalene church to give a boost to our fund raising. Richard, currently featured in the thriller Nuremberg, loves the sound of church bells.
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