{"id":2396,"date":"2019-12-04T15:57:11","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T15:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rayhutchings.co.uk\/?p=2396"},"modified":"2020-12-26T10:25:10","modified_gmt":"2020-12-26T10:25:10","slug":"stanley-christ-church-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.rayhutchings.co.uk\/?p=2396","title":{"rendered":"Stanley, Christ Church Cathedral"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley, East Falkland<\/p><\/div>\n

Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley is the most southern Anglican Cathedral in the world.<\/p>\n

It has five bells which were cast in 1904 at Whitechapel Foundry by Mears of London. They were installed by the clock-maker J W Benson of London in 1905 as the chiming and striking bells of the\u00a0clock installed at the same time.<\/p>\n

The bells\u00a0are 2, 3, 4, 7\u00a0and 8 of an eight with the tenor tuned to A\u266d\u00a0and\u00a0weighs 9-0-9 (860 kg). The front four bells have clappers with flights while the tenor has a loop at the end of the clapper. It appears that the tenor was originally intended to be chimed as a service bell and can still be chimed from the entrance to the Cathedral. The front four bells have ropes tied to the flight of the clapper with various pulleys in place. I\u00a0understand that this was an adaptation made later by the local ringers to enable all five bells to be chimed from the ringing room.<\/p>\n

Details of the bells<\/h1>\n

My thanks to Tim Jackson from the Dove website for the following:<\/p>\n

2<\/span>. 24.5″ 3.2.9 1576 Hz (G+9c) [-10c]<\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/span>. 26.375″ 4.0.2 1400 Hz (F+4c) [-15c]<\/span><\/p>\n

4<\/span>. 28″ 4.1.9 1253 Hz (Eb+12c) [-7c]<\/span><\/p>\n

7<\/span>. 34″ 6.1.13 921 Hz (Bb-21c) [-40c]<\/span><\/p>\n

8<\/span>. 38″ 9.0.9 840 Hz (Ab+19c) [datum]<\/span><\/p>\n

All bells carry the inscription, “J W BENSON LIM. LONDON E.C. 1904” on the top band. Bells 2, 3, 4 and 7\u00a0are further inscribed “CATHEDRAL FALKLANDS” on the waist. The tenor is inscribed “MAY GOD BLESS ALL WHOM WE DO CALL” and “ORISSA DEAN IN MEMORIAM GEORGE MARKHAM DEAN DIED 1st APRIL 1888”.<\/p>\n

Photographs<\/h1>\n
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Dedication of the bells and clock.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ropes in the ringing room<\/p><\/div>\n

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The bells<\/p><\/div>\n

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The bells<\/p><\/div>\n

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The bells showing chiming ropes and clappers<\/p><\/div>\n

Visiting the Church<\/h1>\n

Pretty much the only ways of getting to Stanley are by ship or fly. The Cathedral is in Ross Road on the harbour-side and is adjacent to the whale arch. I understand the bells are often rung before the morning service on Sunday. Unfortunately, I arrived too late and on a day when the local ringers were not there. Not wishing to miss the opportunity to ring, I obtained permission from the priest to enter the tower and chime the bells.<\/p>\n