DURSLEY, ST JAMES THE GREAT
The story of Dursley’s Steeple
In 1698, a dramatic event occurred when the steeple collapsed, unfortunately killing some of the bellringers who were inside. The cost of replacement was estimated to be around £2000, out of reach of the parish so a national appeal was started. An approach was made to King William III for his support:
Dursley in Count: Glouensis
29th Martii 1699
To the King’s most Excellent Majestie
The Humble Petition of the inhabitants of youre Towne of Dursley in youre County of Gloucestershire.
Showeth unto youre Maty. On Satturday the seventh day of Janyuary last past the Tower and spire steeple of the parish Church of Dursley aforesaid with the Ring of Bells therein by casualty and great mischance fell downe and broke part of the west end of the said Church the damage whereof and charge of rebuilding the said tower and repairing the said Church is estimated by workmen to amount unto one Thousand Nyne Hundred and Nynety Five Pounds at least. And youre petitioners shew unto yre. Matie. that the said Towne and Parish is very small the whole yearly vallues of all the lands of the said Parish not exceeding six hundred pounds by estimation and that greatly burthen’d with Numbers of Poore which take up a Fourth at least of the yearly vallue of the said Parish. Whereby youre Petitioners are unable to bear the great charge aforesaid of rebuilding the said Tower and repairinge the Church without some Charitable assistance.
Wherefore youre Petitioners Humbly beseech yre. Mate. To grant your Petitioners your Gradious Letters Patent to ask, gather and receive the charitable benovlence of youre Majestie’s loving subjects towards the great charge and Pious worke aforesaid.
And yre. Petitrs. in Duty bound hall ever pray etc.
Signed by: Maurice Phillips, Bayliff
John Arundell John Awood William Litton
John Tippetts Saml. King Joseph Pulley
Thomas King John Webb Thomas Phelps
Isaac SmithJno. Arundell Junr. Thomas Purnell
John Partridge Saml. Clarke Nicholas Neale
Abraham Stiff Joseph Dallimore James Harding
William Danford Morris Phillips Richard Tippetts
Ab. Baker Thomas Fryer John Purnell
It wasn’t to be for several years however, in 1707 during the reign of Queen Anne, before the tower was rebuilt. Due to the high costs involved, the steeple was never replaced.
In 1698, a dramatic event occurred when the steeple collapsed, unfortunately killing some of the bellringers who were inside. The cost of replacement was estimated to be around £2000, out of reach of the parish so a national appeal was started. An approach was made to King William III for his support:
Dursley in Count: Glouensis
29th Martii 1699
To the King’s most Excellent Majestie
The Humble Petition of the inhabitants of youre Towne of Dursley in youre County of Gloucestershire.
Showeth unto youre Maty. On Satturday the seventh day of Janyuary last past the Tower and spire steeple of the parish Church of Dursley aforesaid with the Ring of Bells therein by casualty and great mischance fell downe and broke part of the west end of the said Church the damage whereof and charge of rebuilding the said tower and repairing the said Church is estimated by workmen to amount unto one Thousand Nyne Hundred and Nynety Five Pounds at least. And youre petitioners shew unto yre. Matie. that the said Towne and Parish is very small the whole yearly vallues of all the lands of the said Parish not exceeding six hundred pounds by estimation and that greatly burthen’d with Numbers of Poore which take up a Fourth at least of the yearly vallue of the said Parish. Whereby youre Petitioners are unable to bear the great charge aforesaid of rebuilding the said Tower and repairinge the Church without some Charitable assistance.
Wherefore youre Petitioners Humbly beseech yre. Mate. To grant your Petitioners your Gradious Letters Patent to ask, gather and receive the charitable benovlence of youre Majestie’s loving subjects towards the great charge and Pious worke aforesaid.
And yre. Petitrs. in Duty bound hall ever pray etc.
Signed by: Maurice Phillips, Bayliff
John Arundell John Awood William Litton
John Tippetts Saml. King Joseph Pulley
Thomas King John Webb Thomas Phelps
Isaac SmithJno. Arundell Junr. Thomas Purnell
John Partridge Saml. Clarke Nicholas Neale
Abraham Stiff Joseph Dallimore James Harding
William Danford Morris Phillips Richard Tippetts
Ab. Baker Thomas Fryer John Purnell
It wasn’t to be for several years however, in 1707 during the reign of Queen Anne, before the tower was rebuilt. Due to the high costs involved, the steeple was never replaced.
