knaresborough St John the Baptist SE 347572
History
A cruciform church with central tower. The base of the tower is twelfth century but the upper stages date from the fourteenth or fifteenth century.
Bells
A peal of eight bells hung for full-circle ringing. Originally a complete eight by Pack and Chapman (1774) the two trebles were recast in 1925 when the bells were rehung and retuned by Taylors of Loughborough.
| Bell | Founder | Date | Cwt-Qtr-Lb | Diameter | Note |
| 1 | John Taylor of Loughborough | 1925 | 4-3-18 | 28" | E |
| 2 | John Taylor of Loughborough | 1925 | 5-2-11 | 29.5" | D sharp |
| 3 | Pack & Chapman | 1774 | 5-3-11 | 31.5" | C sharp |
| 4 | Pack & Chapman | 1774 | 6-3-21 | 33.5" | B |
| 5 | Pack & Chapman | 1774 | 7-2-18 | 35.5" | A |
| 6 | Pack & Chapman | 1774 | 9-2-27 | 39" | G sharp |
| 7 | Pack & Chapman | 1774 | 12-2-20 | 42" | F sharp |
| 8 | Pack & Chapman | 1774 | 18-1-15 | 48" | E |
Inscriptions
List of
Poppleton
KNARESBOROUGH (St. John Baptist). Eight bells.
1.
OUR VOICES SHALL IN CONCERT RING
TO HONOUR BOTH OF GOD AND KING
(Weight, 5 cwt. 3 qrs.)
2. WHILST THUS WE JOIN IN CHEERFUL SOUND
MAY LOVE AND LOYALTY ABOUND
(Weight, 6 cwt. 0 qrs. 9 lbs.)
3. PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD
(Weight, 6 cwt. 1 qr. 4 lbs.)
4. YE RINGERS ALL THAT PRIZE YOUR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
BE SOBER MERRY WISE AND YOU'LL THE SAME POSSESS
(Weight, 7 cwt. 1 qr. 4 1bs.)
5. IN WEDLOCK BANDS ALL YE WHO JOIN WITH HANDS YOUR HEARTS UNITE
SO SHALL OUR TUNEFUL TONGUES COMBINE TO LAUD THE NUPTIAL RITE
(Weight, 8 cwt.)
6. SUCH WOND'ROUS POWERS TO MUSIC'S GIVEN
IT ELEVATES THE SOUL TO HEAVEN
(Weight, 10 cwt. 0 qrs. 20 lbs.)
7. IF YOU HAVE A JUDICIOUS EAR
YOU'LL OWN MY VOICE IS SWEET AND CLEAR
(Weight, 13 cwt. 1 qr.)
8. THE REV T COLLINS M.A. VICAR 1774 PROCUL ESTA PROFANI
JOHN INMAN JOSEPH YOUNG CHURCHWARDENS
(Weight, 19 cwt. 1 qr. 11 lbs.)
On each bell is also-
PACK & CHAPMAN FECIT 1774
These bells cost £462 3s., and the carriage from London £82 1ls. 5d. further. £226 10s. was allowed for the four old bells, £102 13s. 6d. was subscribed, and the balance, £215 10s. 11d., was paid by the parish.
Mr. Frank Buckland (Curiosities of National History, 3rd Series, i, 56) states that the Rev. J. E. Ramskill told him that the four bells taken by the bellfounders in 1774 came from the Trinitarian Priory at Knaresborough. When the priory was dissolved it had twelve bells, which were shared between Spofforth, Kirby MaIzeard, and Knaresborough.
Frame and Fittings
A cast-iron low-side frame with modern fittings by Taylors dating from the restoration of 1925.
Clock
A three train flat bed clock by Potts of Leeds 1881 - now with electric drive and night silencing.
Sources
Yorkshire The West Riding - Nikolas Pevsner and Enid Ratcliffe [2nd edition]
Church Bells of the West Riding of Yorkshire - J Eyre Poppleton
Knaresborough in old picture postcards -Arnold Kellett