East Haddon Church/Bells/a list of Clergy since 1237

The village church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. There has almost certainly been a place of worship in East Haddon since the 11th century – the Domesday Book documents the existence of a priest.

The original church was built on this site in the latter part of the 12th century, the only remains of that building being the capitals of the pillars which support the chancel arch, and the stone font. The font bears the figure of a man holding two winged serpents under his arms. This is believed to be an early sculptor’s portrayal of Christ crushing the serpent’s heads, and in so doing securing the redemption of mankind.

The first church was completely rebuilt towards the middle of the 14th century on the lines of the present building, except that over the porch was a “pervaise” or priest’s chamber. The west door, the tower arch, and the three clerestory windows at the top of the south wall of the nave are typical of the 14th century gothic style.

In the north wall of the nave is a blocked up doorway, which probably owes its existence to there being one of the three medieval manor houses in the village situated to the north of the church. The door was probably in use up till the middle of the 19th century, but by 1877 it had been blocked up.

In 1878 the old box pews were removed and replaced by the present oak pews, and in the same year the arch which accommodates the organ was added. The present organ was installed  in 1928 by Taylors of Leicester, and rebuilt in 1995.

The church has 6 bells, which are of particular interest. You can see full notes on these by clicking below. The tower was rebuilt in 1673 following a partial collapse.

The tower also houses a clock, which was built in 1863 by Moores of London, a renowned clock maker of the time, and installed in 1863 by Messrs J Cram of Daventry. In 2011 the original hand crank winding system was upgraded to an automatic electrically powered winding mechanism, which also incorporates a regulator to maintain good time keeping.

In 1889 there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the village, resulting in 17 deaths. In the same year, because of a suspected link between the disease and possible contamination from earlier burials the churchyard was closed, and a new cemetery opened in 1891.

Church records give us the names of all clergy since 1237, and a full list can be found below

Recent years have seen continuing work to maintain the fabric of the church.

and as depicted in a painting by Mrs Sylvia Blacklee, in 1961. Notice the spires are still on the tower, and the headstones still in the yard.

East Haddon Church tower houses a fine ring of 6 bells.

These are of historical importance in the world of campanology; records show that on 31st December 1756, the first ever recorded peal of 5040 changes on 5 bells was rung at East Haddon by

“a Society of Old Ringers, each man aged upwards of 50 years of Age rang 5040 changes, which takes up several Peals of five bells; and completed in three Hours and ten Minutes.”

The press cutting from the time does not reveal their names.

The bells and their origins are:

Treble        Taylors of Loughborough, 1928.

2nd              Hugh Watts, Leicester, 1621

3rd             Hugh Watts, Leicester, 1621

4th             Hugh Watts, Leicester, 1621

5th               Abhraham Rudhall, 1731

Tenor         Hugh Watts, Leicester, 1621

The treble weighs 5 cwt., the tenor weighs 15cwt (745kg).

Each bell carries an inscription, cast into the metal when the bell was made.