The adventures of the chapel bell at St John’s College
The chapel bell, still in use at St John’s College, was formed from two cracked and disused church bells sent to England to be reforged into one. One of these was the original bell from when the College was established in Waimate by Bishop Selwyn in 1842. This bell had already been reforged from other English church bells.
The following is taken from J. King Davis’ History of St. John’s College, which details the origins of the present chapel bell.
“The first college bell, which was used at Waimate, was made from the metal of certain bells originally belonging to York Minster, and was presented by Mr. Whytehead’s brother. Later in, at Tamaki, this was cracked. It was replaced by a bell presented by Mrs. Fisher as a thank-offering for her son’s recovery from fever during a notable visitation. This in its turn was cracked; and the two injured bells were sent to England, melted down, and re-cast in the form of the present chapel bell. This for some years stood on the ground beside the chapel, until in the seventies the old bell-cot near the western end of the roof was superseded by the present more artistic structure, which was designed by a former student, Mr. (now Archdeacon) Walsh. The gilded iron cross was presented by Dr. Kinder, who also bore the expense of the new bell cot.” (p. 25)
- Pencil sketch of the Chapel at St. John’s College, Auckland by Philip Walsh (d. Oct 20 1877). [Ref: E-357-022. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22750824]
Rev. P. S. Smallfield, former College tutor and Headmaster of St. John’s Collegiate School, was approached by the Auckland Star in 1937 on the topic of the chapel bell. He provided them with a typed transcript of his own reminiscences of the installation of the bell while a student at the college. The transcript is held with the records of the College at the John Kinder Theological Library archives. His account appears to be based on Davis’ published history but provides more details on its design and use at the college.
[P. S. Smallfield] went to St. John’s College as a student 1874. The Warden of the College was the Rev. John Kinder, D.D. The bell lay half buried in the ground, and the bell turret needed repairs.
Dr. Kinder determined that the college chapel should have its bell in proper use.
The Rev. Philip Walsh has just been ordained after a sojourn at the college. Mr. Walsh was a skilful artist, and at Dr. Kinder’s request made a design for a bell turret that would bear the weight of the bell.
The design has been deservedly admired.
Dr. Kinder bore the expense of the work, and engaged a capable builder named Eaton to carry out the design. This was in 1874 or 1875.
The students of the day took a great interest in the progress of the work, and gave Eaton assistance when the task was more than a “one-man job”.
At length the erection was so far advanced as to allow of the bell being swung, or “hung”.
Eaton had fixed up a block and tackle for the hoisting of the bell, with guy ropes to keep the bell injuring the chapel structure in transit.
The students assembled one morning as a body, and “manned” the ropes. Slowly the bell rose from the ground, and at length it was safely adjusted in the turret.
Then the work of finishing the turret went on, until at length all was in order; and on one Sunday morning the bell, for the first time, summoned the students, staff and other inmates to worship.
The work was well done, and the bell has never been out of order since, to the best of the present writer’s knowledge and belief.
The bell has a remarkably good tone; though the tone would be better still if the bell could be “swung”. The size of the turret only allows it to be “tolled”.
An old sketch of the college buildings, reproduced in Davis’ History of St. John’s College shows the first bell turret that was taken down in 1874 or 1875 and replaced by the present structure.”
The Chapel bell at S. John’s College, Auckland. P. S. Smallfield. Manuscript. [Archives ref. SJC-10-5-7]
- The Chapel of St. John’s College with original belfry taken from the panorama of St. John’s College by Caroline Abraham, c1861. [Alexander Turnbull Library Reference: A-220-008-a-2 Tinted lithograph]
The typed transcript was then rewritten into an article in the Auckland Star on the history of historic bells around New Zealand and published on March 1st 1937.
The bell turret featured in the 1876 minutes of the St John’s College Trust Board, with Trustees protesting that Dr Kinder did not have permission to make changes to the Chapel, but we still have the Kinder/Walsh bell tower of 1874 today.