In 1793 Newington Church, London, was pulled down, the bells sold, and the sacred edifice rebuilt without a belfry. The children of the neighbouring parishes soon afterwards jeered at the Newingtonians.
"Pious parson" (they sang), "pious people,
Sold their bells to build a steeple.
A very fine trick of the Newington people
To sell their bells and build no steeple."
In Derbyshire a large number of the churches have bells with peculiar peals—
"Crich has two roller-boulders,
Wingfield ting-tangs,
Alfreton kettles,
And Pentrich pans.
Kirk-Hallan candlesticks,
Corsall cow-bells,
Denby cracked puncheons,
And Horsley merry bells."
The bells of Bow Church ringing out the invitation to Dick Whittington to return to his master's house should not be forgotten—
"Turn again, Whit-ting-ton,
Lord-Mayor-of London."
In New York, U.S.A., the little school urchins sing a bell rhyme of—
"Hark, the merry bells from Trinity
Charm the ear with their musical din,
Telling all throughout the vicinity
Holy-day gambols are now to begin."
FOOTNOTES:
[K] Or Coventry Cross.