Templemore St Columb (Derry Cathedral)

History

The cathedral's own account of its bells describes them as the oldest peal in Ireland. The earliest carries the date 1614, when it was recast for Londonderry steeple, and a second bell is dated 1630. Five larger bells were given by Charles I in 1638, their inscription recording the gift, and a further bell was provided by the citizens of Derry in 1671 to mark the restoration of the ring. The two older and smaller bells were preserved and recast with the others in 1813, when the earlier inscriptions were omitted or altered. Because those inscriptions had been transcribed into one of the old registers they were restored at the recasting of 1929.

The cathedral records that during the siege of 1689 the tower was used as a gun platform and as the signalling station of the city, with messages sent by beacon and by flag, and that the bells were rung on news of relief. Orders signed by the Mayor survive for payments for ringing in 1825 and 1826, usually of £1 2s 0d for the day, on occasions including New Year's Day, St Patrick's Day and the arrival of the judges at the assizes. In 1826 eight pounds was paid for ringing for one week before and one week after Christmas. In past years the curfew was rung at nine o'clock morning and evening.

Notable features

Five bells were added in 1929 by donors and subscribers. Among them is one given by the Browning Clubs in memory of Captain Browning of the Mountjoy, killed at the relief of the city on 28 July 1689, and one given in memory of Sir John McFarland, four times Mayor of Derry. At that date the old bells were recast, the new ones made and all were mounted on an iron framework by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon. The heaviest of the bells weighs 32 cwt.