KiRKMAHOE Church Bells, &c. 97 



3. The Church Bells of Holywood and Kirkmahoe, and the Church 

 and Micnicipal Bells oj Lochmaben. Part 2. 



By Mr James Barbour. 



Kirkmahoe Church Bells. 



The present bell occupying the church tower is inscribed on 

 the waist, t. mears of London fecit 1822. The date corresponds 

 with the period when the church was built. It is a good bell, 

 and may be regarded as a recast and enlargement of one more 

 ancient which, with another forming a pair, seem to have been 

 in use in the older church. The bell is negligently hung. 



The two old bells before mentioned, as well as the present one» 

 are referred to in the heritor.s' minutes relating to the rebuilding 

 and furnishing of the church. Unfortunately the minutes, which 

 were drawn up not at the meetings but subsequently and from 

 recollection by the Rev. Dr Wightman, are not on all points so 

 explicit as could be desired. In four of them reference is made 

 to the church bells : — 



21st March, 1822. The committee request Mr Kewall [the 

 architect] to get a new bell made for the church, and that he 

 shall send tlie two old bells to the founder in part payment. 



1st July, 1822. Tlie meeting considering that sundry incidental 

 expenses will be necessarily incurred in the clothing of the pulpit, 

 the painting of the stone-work of the windows inside and out, a 

 christening bowl and bracket, and the hanging of the old bell, 

 agreed to an additional assessment of £30. 



20th Nov. 1823. The meeting considering that the old bell is 

 of no use came to the resolution of selling it, and Mr M'Gowan, 

 the builder, being present, stated that he would undertake to get 

 it sold to the bellfounder in Dumfries -without any expense of 

 consequence. 



7th April, 1825. To amount of the price of the old boll sold 

 by Mr M'Gowan by order of the meeting of heritors, £6 3s. 

 By paid for the new bell, £37 3s 2d. 



The first minute before quoted, it will be observed, mentions 

 two old bells, the other minutes speak of one. It can hardly be 

 doubted, I think, considering the explicit statement of the fact 

 in the first-quoted minute, that there were two old bells to begin 

 with. Subsequently it seems to have been found desirable, 



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