The wonderful peal of eight bells that hang in the tower of New St. Mary’s Church were the gift of the Misses Margaret S. and Mary McIlvaine, in memory of Bishop George Washington Doane. Purchased at the price of about $10,000, the bells were given on condition that the parish retire the debt incurred in the construction of the New Church. The McIlvaine sisters ultimately contributed to clear the debt as well. Miss Margaret McIlvaine was never to hear the bells, as she died shortly after the gift was offered.
The tower of the church was designed by Richard Upjohn with provision for bells, and needed no alterations. There was some discussion as to whether to acquire American or English bells, and in November 1864 an English peal was decided upon.
The English firm of Mears & Stainbank cast the bells, made on the “Doncaster” pattern, at their famous Whitechapel Foundry in 1865. Messrs. Messrs and Stainbank wrote of them, “We are happy to say a finer peal of bells never left this foundry. They have been so universally admired the last 2 or 3 months . . . that we are sorry to lose them.” The bells were shipped from London via New York on the ship Cella and arrived in Burlington on February 22, 1866 after surviving a difficult transatlantic voyage. The Rev. Eugene A. Hoffman, Rector of St. Mary’s from 1863-64, noted, “The bells are beautifully made, of excellent tone and tune … I do not hesitate to say, that I think it the finest peal in this country. ”The bells were first played on Easter Day, April 1, 1866.
The bells are currently chimed for fifteen minutes before Sunday services, and also for weddings, funerals and national days. On April 27th each year the Funeral bell is tolled to commemorate the death of Bishop Doane on that date in 1859.
There is a slight discrepancy as to the weight of the largest (tenor) bell. Dr. George Morgan Hills’s History of the Church in Burlington says it is 2800 pounds, but a 1983 letter from the Whitechapel Foundry states that their “Crook book” shows 2468 pounds. Each of the bells has a particular dedication and inscription:
The first and largest bell (the “tenor”), weighs 2,468 pounds and is 4’ 2 1/2” in diameter. It is inscribed: This peal of eight bells is the gift of Margaret S. and Mary McIlvaine to S. Mary’s Church, Burlington, New Jersey, Christmas, A.D. 1863. Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The second bell (1681 lbs.) is the Bishop’s Bell: In memory of George Washington Doane, Second Bishop of New Jersey. The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee.
The third bell (1348 lbs.) is the Rectors Bell: O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise Him and magnify Him forever.
The fourth bell (1165 lbs.) is the People’s Bell: O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise Him and magnify Him forever.
The fifth bell (958 lbs.) is the Thanksgiving Bell: My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh give thanks unto His holy Name forever and ever.
The sixth bell (806 lbs.), the Funeral Bell, bears the inscription: O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him forever.
The seventh bell, the Marriage Bell (741 lbs.) is inscr-bed Those whom God hath joined together let not man put asunder.
The eighth or “treble” bell (703 lbs.) is called the Patriot’s Bell: Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Chiming and Change-ringing
There are eight bells in the key of “D,” hung in an oak frame. The bells are equipped with central clappers and side hammers. The bells are presently chimed using the side hammers. Ropes from the hammers are routed through pulleys to an “Ellacombe apparatus” above the bell chamber, where the chimer stands to sound the bells. At the Ellacombe apparatus the ropes are arranged vertically in order next to each other. With this arrangement the chimer can pull the ropes to play changes and tunes, within the limitations of one musical octave.
The bells are also hung for “change-ringing,” the only peal of bells in New Jersey so arranged. Each bell is hung on bearings and equipped with a large wheel. By means of a rope around the wheel, the bell is swung through a nearly 360 degree arc to be sounded by the central clapper. Each bell is rung by an individual ringer, and the bells are sounded in varying orders or “changes.”(There are 40,320 possible patterns!) While the bells were first played on April 1, 1866, Dr. Hills’s History refers to the first “pealing” of the bells on Christmas Eve, 1866; but it is not clear whether the bells were ever really rung in this way until the late 20th century, when for several years a dedicated band of ringers practiced the ancient English art of change ringing.
The Chimers
In order for the bells to be chimed, a chimer must climb the tower staircase and a series of ladders to the chiming platform above the bells- something like a seven-story ascent. The bell chamber is surrounded by open louvers, so the tower is cold in winter and hot in summer! For a century and a half, dedicated chimers have braved the climb and the elements to sound St. Mary’s bells to the glory of God, to announce worship services, and to the edification of the community. We don’t have records of all who have rung the bells over the years, but the following is a list of Masters of the Chimes and some of those assisting:
1866 to 1892
Ellwood Hanco
1892 to 1895
Frederick Fenimore
1895 to 1905
H. E. Parker
1905 to 1940
John H. Miller, Jr.
1940 to 1959
Norman Burr
1959 to 1963
Horace Estelow
1963 to 2008
Edgar “Ned” Taggart
Assisted by Bill Baird, Rodger Kendrick, and David Gilbert
2009-2011
David Gilbert
2011-present
Robert Bacon
Assisted by Lauren Ancharski, Gareth Haynes, Michael Ekelburg III
and Daniel Martin
Others:
Carlton Tillinghast
William E. Shull
Ralph Dyson