This bell was cast by John Sturdy of London circa 1440 and is the oldest in the ring and indeed one of the oldest in Bedfordshire. Now the fifth, it was the fourth bell in the ring of five until 1999 when the addition of a new treble augmented the ring to six. The inscription around the John bell reads, ‘In multis annis resonet campana Johannis’ (may John’s bell sound for many years). There are also two floreated crosses with what appears to be a coin impressed between them. The bell weighs 9 cwt and has a diameter of 38½ inches.

The fitting of the new bell frame and the tuning of the ring in November 1999 allowed the bells of St Mary’s to welcome the new millennium with their finest voices ever. Down the years the bells of St Mary’s have been rung for many occasions including the accession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries the church accounts record special peals for most coronations and deaths of the monarchs and their consorts - for example “Given the Ringers on the Coronacon day of King William and Queen Mary 2s.6d.”! More recently the bells have marked the end of the Gulf War and the release of the Archbishop’s envoy Terry Waite (1991). Since 1899 the John bell has also been used to chime the hours.

The John bell is sold exclusively through St. Mary’s Church, Harlington (e-mail: YHL40@Dial.Pipex.Com)

By special arrangement with the incumbent, purchasers of the John Bell miniature quoting this web site as their reference are welcome to ask upon purchase for a conducted tour of the belfry (not usually open to the public) to see the original bell.