After a brief spell on the sidelines in the summer of 2025 the church bell is reinvigorated and back in action. The original bell, which apparently dates from the reign of Edward VI, was recast by Joseph Eayre of St Neots with an inscription around the top of its rim which remains visible today “JONATHAN WADE CHURCHWARDEN 1768”. In The Church Bells of Leicestershire (1877), Thomas North states that the church bell was rung every day at 8am. St Denys church was partially rebuilt in 1869 when the turret which houses the bell today was added. In 2024 after the bell rope came adrift, an observant parishioner noticed that the wooden bell wheel to which the rope was attached was in an advanced state of decay. The PCC therefore contacted the John Taylor Bell Foundry of Loughborough to advise. By a happy coincidence Taylor’s records revealed that they already had an association with this bell: “The bell was recast by John Taylor and Co in 1927 when the old bell cracked. The bell has been harmonically tuned to the note of B and weighs 1-0-21 CWT (60Kg) and is 18in in diameter. The bell was cast with a flat top and the original inscription of the old bell was reproduced when recast.” The work by the churchwardens of the time when the bell was recast and rehung in 1927 was a worthwhile investment, with the installation having served its purpose for nearly 100 years. Taylor’s recommended a small but targeted refurbishment of the bell’s fittings to allow for the bell to ring out for decades to come. The 60kg bell was left happily perching on wooden blocks within the turret during the summer months whilst the moving parts were taken off to Loughborough for refurbishment. The wrought iron headstock was cleaned and its gudgeons and bearings restored, the wooden bell wheel was re-soled and re-shrouded, and the clapper was reground to shape and repainted. Taylors returned in September, rehung the bell for swing chiming. Chief Stonton bell ringer Michael Berry reports that the bell has a “lovely crisp melodic sound.” Stonton PCC would like to extend their deep gratitude to the anonymous donor who made the renovation possible.
