Merton, St John the Divine
District: Northern
Practice Night: None
Ringing Times: Sunday: 9.00-9.30 am ; Practice 1st 3rd and 5th Thursday (Phone to check).
Entry: Through vestry door at East end of church. Proceed through church to the NW corner and up the tower stairs (locked unless ringing is taking place). The North West church door may be open if someone is on duty in the church, else the door is locked for security.
Contact: Bernard Fanthom, 07590 815871, bernard.fanthom@gmail.com
Additional Information: Limited parking in churchyard
Website:
The church was built in 1913-14 to commemorate the centenary of the death of Admiral Lord Nelson. Bells were intended to be installed as evidenced by rope holes in the ceiling. A peal of 6 bells was installed in 2014 to commemorate the church's centenary. The Keltek Trust provided the third, fourth and tenor bells. These were previously part of the chime of eight bells at Cradley Heath Methodist church. The other three bells were cast new in 2013. One of the new bells in inscribed to acknowledge the generosity of the Surrey Association and its Belfry Repair Fund.
The bells were augmented to 10 in 2018. The new ring includes two of the last bells cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry which closed in 2017 after over 500 years of trading.