Some time ago I visited Lincoln Archives, in an effort to learn more about the history of our original five bells cast in 1794. Was this major undertaking paid for by donation, or at the expense of the parishioners? So readers I spent an interesting few hours, glasses firmly perched on nose, pencil and paper in hand ( they would not allow biros) as I trawled through the Town Books, Churchwarden’s Accounts etc of Gedney Church which go back to the 1600’s I found only one reference to the bells when on “April ye 29th 1747 Thomas Hedderly bell founder, visited Gedney submitting an estimate/quotation for “ye running of ye fourth bell” ie its recasting. This confirms there were, prior to 1794 at least four bells in Gedney tower. Unfortunately there is nothing recorded after year 1788, most frustrating as my particular interest was 1794 when these bells were recast by Osborn of Downham Market, even in those days a major and costly undertaking. However there is one clue as to who contributed towards this project. Rev. Thomas Wilson MA, whose name plus those of each churchwarden is inscribed on our tenor bell . This suggests though not confirms, the costs were met by the parishioners. However who was Thomas Wilson?
Wilson attended Pembroke College Cambridge in 1766 where he took his BA and MA. He preached in the diocese of Norwich and was licensed there as a clerk. He was vicar of Soham from April 14th 1782, and also vicar of Whaddon from 1789, becoming vicar of Gedney on June 23rd 1794. The Gedney appointment coincided with him becoming chaplain to the 3rd Baronet, Lord John Monson of Burton, a village north of Lincoln. These appointments ran simultaneously so as we can see, he was quite a busy man though a clergyman friend suggested he probably paid curates tuppence halfpenny to run the parishes while he enjoyed the benefits of the livings which could be true as the value at Soham alone was £350 per year, a large sum of money in those days. He certainly appeared to have friends in high places and that old adage, “it’s not what you know but who you know” may, though not necessarily have been applicable.
Was he instrumental in having Gedney bells recast and did he contribute something towards the cost? That remains unknown though rather interestingly Soham’s original six bells were cast at Downham Market in 1788 during his incumbency ( they are still in the tower today) and our five bells were cast, also at Downham Market, after he became vicar in June 1794. What is certain is , as his name appears on our tenor , our five bells must have been cast during his incumbency, that is after June and probably late in 1794. Reverend Wilson died on 6th March 1797 and I understand the records of Osborn’s Downham Market Foundry no longer exist so in bell ringing parlance “that is all” pending the unlikely discovery of more information.
In writing this article I wish to acknowledge the help received from Chris Pickford, retired archivist well known bell ringer and author, Rev. Eleanor Whalley, Vicar of Soham, Howard Laver, Soham, Rev. Helen Orr, Vicar of Whaddon, David Grech, Whaddon who all kindly replied to my emails and supplied the data on which most of the above is based.
John Bennett