OUR STORY

This is the story of a journey to the future. Step by step, the colourful course of the campaign for New Bells for Richmond. Supported by generous benefactors, our own community and sprinkled with the glamour of celebrity endorsements this has been a fantastic fund raising effort that will deliver eight new bells at St Mary Magdalene parish church. And all in time for Christmas.

- May 2025 -

An application for a faculty (formal permission) to install new bells is submitted by the Richmond ringers to the Diocese of Southwark. This is the culmination of several years of consultation and painstaking paperwork.

The proposal is for the three oldest bells, made by William Bartlet in Whitechapel in 1680, to be retained and retuned. They will sit alongside five new bells made in Holland by Royal Eijsbouts in Asten. This is the largest bell foundry in the world and makers of the mighty Olympic bell for the 2012 London Olympic Games at Stratford. The heaviest of the redundant bells, the 19cwt tenor, will be melted down and other bells to be displayed in the church.

- July 2025 -

The faculty is issued by Philip Petchey, chancellor of the Diocese of Southwark, authorising new bells for Richmond.

Project group of four ringers formed to plan fund raising and communications. Initial budget of £200,000 agreed.

- October 2025 -

New Bells for Richmond launched and announced to St Mary Magdalene Sunday morning congregation on October 12. New website created and social media channels focus on fund raising.

- November 2025 -

Off to a flying start as donations pass £50,000. Showbiz joins the campaign when stars from the Richmond panto, including Basil Brush, make a promo video in the church.

- December 2025 -

Grants boost as funding reaches £77,000 with pledges pushing total to £90,000. Renovation of historic peal boards added to budget which with other costs is now set at £240,000. Richmond bells announce Christmas lights switch on. The order for the new bells is placed with Royal Eijsbouts.

- January 2026 -

Heritage of London Trust gives £8000 to pay for in-church display of three retired bells. Actor Richard E Grant records video in support of New Bells for Richmond. Ding Dong!

- February 2026 -

Film Night. Ringers host gala screening of Ring Out Your Dead from the Midsomer Murders television series. It’s a sell-out and Hugh Boneville, who was in the cast, sends recorded message of good wishes. The event raises £3000.

- March 2026 -

Richmond rock star Richard Ashcroft donates tickets worth £500 to his O2 show. The ringers set up a raffle. Another huge star Rick Astley records video inviting support for new bells. Total now standing at £188,000 after more grants and legacies.

- April 2026 -

Impressionist Rory Bremner sends us his hilarious message of support from 'Donald Trump'. A group of bell ringers from Richmond saw the impressive sight as the new bells were cast from molten metal at the bell foundry near Eindhoven in Holland. The alloy of copper and tin came out of the furnace at 1100 degrees centigrade in a method of bell making that has changed little in 500 years.

- May 2026 -

The ringers run a mobile belfry at the May Fair on Richmond Green. Hundreds of people are attracted by the novelty and the sound of tinkling bells. Dozens of visitors of all ages have a go at bell ringing

- 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, Jo Kitson, and Vicky Wilberforce.