Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953)(about) |
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Monday 29 October 1951
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ST. STEPH?EN'SI ?LL . The story-- of :St. Stephen's bell" was written with the history of' the church a short time ago, but 'since then further particulars have come to hand, so this account will bring it up to date. The bell was the property of S. G. Henty, and was landed in Portland from England by the ship "Frances Henty" in 1857. It was hung in a stout low tower in front of Richmond House, then the residence of Stephen Henty, but for what purpose is not on record. It was tolled the first time on the oc casion of the death of Henty's eldest daughter, Mary Jane, -1st February, 1859. . In December, 1862, a bazaar was held by the congregation of St. Stephen's to raise funds to erect a belfry. This :.was built, and in 1864 Henty presented his bell to the church. This is the bell that is in use to-day. A large iron belfry was erected by working bee under the supervision, of Shire engineer C. C. P. Wilson in July, 1907, and the bell was hung therein. At least two of to-day's parishioners, Messrs. E. Osborne and F. Row, were at the installation of the bell in its iron tower. This tower is now in need of repairs, and when these are com pleted it will enable the old bell to be rung at a pitch unheard of by modern Portlanders, for it is said, when properly going, the ring could be heard at Narrawong. Incident ally, the story I used in the church history that the silvery tone of the bell is due to silver coins being melted into its construction is leg endary, and, after much research, .I can find no verification for the state ment.