In the 14th century the church had no tower and its only bell was probably hung in a gable at the West end of the building. During the 15th century a squat tower was built to hold the bell. The tower was subsequently enlarged and strengthened in the 16th and 17th centuries to its present form. This original bell is still in the tower and is now over 600 years old. It's founder, William Burford of London, wrote his Last Will and Testament in 1390 and it can be assumed that the bell was cast before this date. It is 36" in diameter and bears the Latin inscription Sit nomen Domini ben edictum' - 'May the name of the Lord be blessed' (It is the present no.7 bell).

 

The next oldest bell (the present no.6) was cast and hung about the year 1540. It was cast by John Saunders of Reading, is about 33" in diameter and bears his initials, the device and arms of the Bishop of Winchester and the words 'Sanc te Dunstane' (St. Dunstan).

 

A third bell appears to have existed at this time as the Inventory taken for the year 1552 shows three bells in the belfry. It is thought that this missing bell may possibly have been re-cast and re-hung in 1723.

 

In 1636 Robert Oldfield of Hertford cast two new bells for the tower. The lighter of the two (the present no.3) bears the name of Thomas Hoo, the owner of the Hoo Estates at that time. It is 28" in diameter and is stamped with the year and the maker's name and initials. The second of the two new bells (the present no.5) has the same markings but has, in addition, the initials 'W.M. - C.W.', probably meaning William Mitchell, Churchwarden.

 

Two years later, Robert Oldfield cast another and heavier bell (presently the Tenor or no.8) which is 40" in diameter and bears the inscription 'William Mitchell, 1638'

 

The ring was finally made up to six bells in 1728 when bell founder John Waylett of London cast (or possibly re-cast the missing bell of 1552) a bell to hang at no.2 (the present no.4). It is 29" in diameter and bears the inscription 'John Carpenter, churchwarden, 1728. John Waylett, London, made me, H.S.'.

There is a tradition that one or more of the bells was stolen from the old church at Ayot St.Lawrence at some time, but for this there is no evidence!

This ring of six remained unaltered until in 1952 it was found that there was need for repair and an appeal for £600 was started. It took the ringers four and a half years to raise the money but the work, which included re-tuning and re-hanging, was completed in October 1959. It was at this time that Donald Price, a ringer and the owner of a carpentry business in the village, built the memorial screen incorporating a new ringing floor which had been designed by a member of the church.

The thought of augmenting this ring of six to a ring of eight had long been a dream of the Kimpton Ringers. However, it was obvious that the existing oak bell frame, that had supported the bells since the end of the 15th century, could not be made to accommodate two extra bells. But in January 1980 the ringers heard that three bells had been transferred to South Mymms from a redundant church in Brentford where an eight bell, cast iron, frame still existed.

After much measuring it was decided that the frame could be altered to fit the Kimpton tower and what's more it was free if the ringers removed it themselves - which they did. Despite this, the cost of altering the frame, re-moving the old oak frame, extra work in the tower and two new bells was in excess of £12,000 - a sum beyond their means. It was therefore proposed to install the new frame using voluntary labour but to delay the ordering of the new bells to a later date. This reduced the cost to £700. Approval was given by the P.C.C. on the basis that the ringers would raise the money. The work began on Easter Monday 1981. when the 175 cubic feet of oak frame was removed. Much of it was found to be in excellent condition and was subsequently sold for £1,800 - that was enough for the new treble! Grants had also been obtained from local Bell ringing associations and the new bells were ordered immediately. By October the old bells were re-hung in the new frame and were rededicated on 24th November at the Annual Village Thanksgiving Service. The new bells had been cast by Taylors of Loughbororgh that September and were collected in December after tuning to be in sympathy with the existing six. The Old year was rung out on the six and the New year rung in on the new eight. It was 1982.

 

Text Box: The new Treble bears the inscription:
PETER
“THOU ART THE CHRIST"
PROVIDED TO THE GLORY OF GOD BY THE EFFORTS OF THE RINGERS AND FRIENDS


Text Box: The new Treble bears the inscription:
PETER
“THOU ART THE CHRIST"
PROVIDED TO THE GLORY OF GOD BY THE EFFORTS OF THE RINGERS AND FRIENDS
 

The Present Ring of Eight Bells

Treble

1981        3cwt 2qr 27lb

Taylor

Loughborough

Number Two

1981         4cwt 1qr 0lb

Taylor

Loughborough

Number Three

1636         4cwt 1qr 5lb

Robert Oldfield

Hertford

Number Four

1728         4cwt 2qr 8lb

John Waylett

Bishops Stortford

Number Five

1636       5cwt 1qr 18lb

Robert Oldfield

Hertford

Number Six

C.1540   7cwt 1qr 22lb

John Saunders

Reading

Number Seven

C.1390    8cwt 1qr 0lb

William Burford

London

Tenor

1637        10cwt 2qr 5lb

Robert Oldfield

Hertford

 

Les Weeks Jan 2000