History of Inscriptions on Bells

This is based on Note 9. page 69 of the 'Church Bells of the Deanery of Bicester, Oxfordshire' by Frederick Sharpe published 1932 by J.Smart and co., Brackley- Northants. All of the examples are taken from Bicester Branch.

It has been the custom to place inscriptions on bells from very early times. We read in the Bible, Zechariah chapter: XIV. verse 20.

It will be noticed that the oldest inscriptions are usually the best; the simple dedications to the Work of God,or to a saint.
( Caversfield, Finmere, Middleton Stoney, Souldern ).
Some bells bear the beautiful message of the Angelus.
( Newton Purcell,Hardwick, Caversfield )
Rhyming hexameter verses largely formed the insriptions on Medieval bells; Gothic lettering was invariably used and the inscriptions were mostly in Latin. There is one bell in the deanery bearing a Hexameter ( the 3rd at Finmere), which translated , reads, "For many years, let the bell of John ring out," - a very reasonable request which has been granted.

After the Reformation, unintelligible inscriptions are often found; the founders either not being able to read or write, or, perhaps, trying to reproduce Medieval inscriptions which they did not understand. ( Chesterton, Finmere, Fritwell, Mixbury, Wendlebury )

Some inscriptions display the patriotism of the founders ( Mixbury ). In post reformation times, Latin inscriptions were often used - with varying success- by the earlier members of the Bagley family; ( Middleton Stoney, Somerton, Souldern ), but generally speaking, the inscriptions were mostly in English, down to the time of the Gothic revival.

In the seventeenth century, came the deplorable desire for self-advertisement; first on the part of the bell-founders, and, afterwards of local officials and celebrities, which has lasted until today, and it is to be regretted that so many of our modern bells bear only the names of incumbents and churchwardens.

The inscriptions are impressed into the moulds of the bells from stamps; the founders of many ancient bells have been determined by the lettering and ornamental stamps used by them.