St Mary Magdalene
New Bells for Richmond
raised of
£240,000
target
- June 2026 -
One last look at St Mary's bells
Majestic, awesome, beautiful, historical. Just some of the epithets that typified the reaction across the congregations when the bells of St Mary Magdalene were lined up in final farewell over the weekend of June 26 and 27.
After centuries of ringing out their message unseen by the public here they were for all to see: nine bells from the modest clock bell to the mighty tenor that weighed in at just under a ton.
For most of them, their work at St Mary’s is done. However, the oldest trio, made in 1680, are to be refurbed and retuned and will return to the tower as numbers 5, 7 and 8 alongside five new bells.
The skilled work of creating our new octave will be carried out by bellhangers Whites of Appleton, Oxfordshire. In addition, they will create a display for three of the redundant bells that will continue to be an exhibit in the church.
‘This is a nostalgic moment for all of us,’ said ringers’ leader Jackie Harrison. ‘But we look forward to the new more tuneful bells that future generations will ring for centuries to come. We feel we have helped secure the future health of a fine English tradition here in Richmond.’
The three-day operation to bring the bells out of the tower involved a team of volunteers working alongside James Haseldine of Whites drawn mostly from our regular ringing team: Matthew Stephens, Clare Toberty, Jackie Harrison, Robert Rowe, Malcolm MacAlister, Michael Li, Tina Li, Andy Chopping, Thomas Ashwin Siejkowski, Alison Jackson, and Jo Kitson.
We thank everyone for their support
The bells of St Mary Magdalene, Richmond have rung out for the last time. On Sunday June 14 2026 a band of mostly local ringers rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples to mark the end of three centuries of ringing on the bells. Five new bells have been cast and will join the three oldest bells, made in 1680, that are being retained. By Christmas the work will be done and a joyful sound will spread across the town.
The Richmond ringers are immensely grateful for every contribution as they enter the next stage of their fund raising campaign. The target is £240,000 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.
Crucially, the new bells will be easier to ring, giving learners the opportunity to flourish and help St Mary Magdalene play its part in securing the art of ringing for generations to come.