Rehang and augmentation of the bells of Buckden
The steeple of St Mary, Buckden Parish Church		The village of Buckden is situated just south of Huntingdon on the Great North Road (The A1) in the old county of Huntingdonshire (now part of the county of Cambridgeshire). Next to the Palace is the Church of St Mary, orginately part of the Diocese of Lincoln, has a chancel and porch constructed in the 13th century and the nave built in the 15th century. The church has had most of the stained glass windows and the Holy rood removed in the time of Oliver Cromwell. The south door of the church remains hinged on it’s original fittings. The village was for seven and a half centuries the main residence of the Bishops of Lincoln because of it’s geographic location at the centre of the Diocese of Lincoln (prior to re-organisation). The bishop’s lived in an Episcopal Palace, much of which still remains to this day. The Great Tower stands in the grounds with turrets the corners. The Tower is connected to the gatehouse with tall battlements in the south-west corner of the grounds. (For more information see the Buckden Palace web site).
1997 was the Centenary of the re-formation of the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers. The Association decided three years ago to adopt a project to mark this event, and to provide a lasting feature symbolising the aims of the Association. The endeavour choosen was the augmentation of the five to six bells and rehanging on a new frame at St Mary, Buckden. The Association has provided the funds to purchase of the new treble and a grant towards the augmentation work in the tower.
The new treble carries Association's name, was cast on Thursday 6th February 1997 by The Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London and has the weight of 7-1-16, tuned to the note of C#. The tenor bell has a weight of 15 1/2 Cwt tuned to the note of E. The bells were rehung by Whites of Appleton.
The ring of six bells at Buckden are now as follows:
Bell	Inscription		Weight	Mouth Diameter	Note	Cast
Treble	ELY DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS Centenary Bell 1987-1997 TO THE GLORY OF GOD WHITES OF APPLETON CHURCH BELL HANGERS 1 9 9 7 WHITECHAPEL		7-1-16	32 7/16	C#	1997
Second	SCA KATHERINA ORA PRO NOBIS		8-0-13	34	B	c1510
Third	JOHN GREEN ESQR & JOHN WALLER CHURCHWARDENS ROBT ST NEOTS FECIT		8-0-27	36	A	1779
Fourth	JOHN GREEN ESQR & ROBT BURDER CHURCHWARDENS 1779 + EDWD ARNOLD ST NEOTS FECIT		7-3-0	37 13/16	G#	Not Known
Fifth	MILES * GRAIE * FECIT * 1654		10-1-1	40 1/16	F#	1654
Tenor	JOHN _ BARDAR _ MICHEL _ IARMAND _ 1627		13-0-12	43 5/8	E	1657
The bells have been dedicated on Sunday 8th June 1997 by Right Reverend John Dennis (former Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich).
Additional information:		Bells of St Mary, Buckden
		Ringing World article - The Battle of Buckden Bells
		Centenary Celebrations 1897-1997
		1997 Quarter Peals
		St Mary's - the Parish Church of Buckden