Tolling the Bell on leaving Church (Vol. ix., p. 125.).—In reply to J. H. M.'s Query, I beg to state that the chief reason for tolling the bell while the congregation is leaving church, is to
inform the parishioners who have not been able to attend in the morning, divine service will be celebrated in the afternoon. In scattered villages, or where a single clergyman had to perform the duties of more than one church, this was formerly quite requisite. At a neighbouring village of Tytherly, the custom is still observed, though no longer necessary.
W. S.
There is little doubt that priests in olden times were fond of hot dinners, and the bell at the conclusion of the service must have been intended as a warning to their cooks (and many others) to make ready the repast. This is merely a supposition; but I shall cherish the idea in the want of a better explanation. The custom has been, until very lately, observed in our little country church. There are other customs which are still kept up, namely, that of tolling the church bell at eight o'clock on Sunday morning, and again at nine, as well as that of ringing a small bell when the clergyman enters the reading-desk.
E. W. J.
Crawley, Winchester.
I believe that the custom of tolling the bell when the congregation is leaving the church, is to notify that there will be another service in the day. This is certainly the reason in this parish (in Leicestershire); for after the second service the bell is not tolled, nor if, on any account, there is no afternoon service.
S. S. S.
When I was Lecturer of St. Andrew's, Enfield, the bells rang out a short peculiar peal immediately after Sunday Morning Prayer. I always thought it was probably designed to give notice to approaching funeral processions that the church service was over, as in the country burials—usually there always on Sundays—immediately follow the celebration of morning service.
Mackenzie Walcott, M.A.