A ship's bell hangs alongside three rather more ancient bells in the bell tower of a beautiful Lincolnshire church, St John the Baptist, Belleau.
It came from a full-rigged sailing ship "Bacchus" which was wrecked not far away, on the east coast of England. She was carrying a cargo of timber, sprang a leak and was grounded.
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| Image from shipnostalgia.com and State Library of Queensland |
Bacchus, launched in 1867 from Liverpool, was wrecked in November 1902. The image above shows the wreck which was taken to Hull. In 1903 she was sold to be broken up - £1150.
Her bell was bought at auction, I believe, then gifted to a small tin chapel in a village churchyard.
When the tin chapel was no longer fit for purpose the bell was moved to a beautiful church less than half a mile away and there it hangs today.
This church was rebuilt in 1862, of chalk, the exterior is faced with greenstone from a few miles away.
This old crusader watches over the place. More of him another time.
Linking today with Inspired Sunday
Nice church,love finding out these odd pieces of history surrounding things you see in a church
ReplyDeleteThere are worse hobbies! Your most recent church exploration was very special.
DeleteGreat church
ReplyDeleteIs the bell used for change ringing? Look forward to the story of the crusader.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know, Marcia. I'm helping out with a special bell ringing occasion in November.
DeleteHi there Elaine ... I'm Beth ... one of the hosts from InSPIREd Sunday. I do finally have a church to share this week, I am glad to be back sharing again, sometimes life doesn't allow for travel to find another one to link up. hope you are well. thank you for join us. i love history, as a kid our home town church had pipes, as a kid i love looking at them while the organist did play, so amazing!! take care and please join us again soon. ( ;
ReplyDeleteHi Beth, Real life definitely comes before blogging, but it is lovely when time and opportunity allow us to share things. Churches are packed with history and human stories, great fun to explore.
DeleteMmmmmmm.... Perhaps.... They should not have named that ship after; "Bacchus was a Roman god of wine and debauchery. However, he is also identified as a fertility god." -grin-
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, and a Crusader is buried there. Another story, yet to be looked into, and passed on to us. :-)
You could have a full time job, just looking for all the History, which surrounds you, and researching it, and passing it on to us!!!! ,-)
Thank you much, for what you do do!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. You know me, Luna, I love digging away at history and now that I am retired I can indulge myself. Bacchus was a strange name choice for a working boat! Perhaps the ship owners had a fleet named after gods...maybe I should explore that a little! ;-)
DeleteSpeaking of finding History... There is an Instagram, which I love to follow......... She lives in London, and researches little remembered History of that city. Soooo interesting... For example, this post.
ReplyDeleteNot all are bloody!!! Many are simply lovely old remembrances, of areas, not many even know are there.
Yes, she is Pagan, and so much is from that point of view. But Paganism is OLD, and things still existing, from long ago, are OLD too. And I love it!
I love Kate at TheGreenWoodsLaugh on IG.
It's a while since I was last on IG but I will take a look at her posts, they sound interesting. Thanks, Luna.
Delete...thanks for this lovely view of history.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting.
DeleteI'm glad the ship's bell was saved and found a good new home.
ReplyDeleteAfter years of being on the ship, then outside on the tin chapel, it is now safely displayed in the church - pitted and weather marked, but safe!
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