Merstham, St Katharine

London Road, Merstham, RH1 3BJ    Find on map

Number of bells: 8

Tenor Weight: 13½ cwt

Ground floor ring: Yes

District: Southern

Practice Night: Wednesday

Ringing Times: Sunday Service:10:00 am (ringing at 09:20). Practice: 7:45 -9:15 pm

Entry: Tower entrance is from the main church south door

Contact:

Tower Secretary:  Ann Beirne - ann.beirne@outlook.com / 07771 651164 

jack is merstham.tower.captain@gmail.com

Tower Captain: Jack Pease - emailjack is merstham.tower.captain@gmail.com /01737645951

Website: N/A

The parish is mentioned in documents as early as AD 675. The present church was built during the first half of the 13thcentury with various additions until the 19th century. However, the font is a block of Sussex marble and dates from approximately 1150. The church is mentioned in the Doomsday book and lies on the path of the Pilgrims Way.

In 1720 an unknown historian recorded that "The church is a handsome building and hath a merry peal of bells in a stone tower at the west end". The bells date back to 1483, the oldest bell - the current 5th, with more bells added over the years. In 1899 the existing five were augmented to 6. The old clappers from the 5 bells are mounted on a board of belfry oak inside the church on the north wall. In 1964 the 6 were augmented to 8 and the the bells were rehung on a lower frame and rung from the ground floor.

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