The use of church bells in the diocese of Lincoln, 1536–1799

Throughout the ages, bells have played an important part in the everyday life of the community by signalling the hours of the daily offices, ringing in celebration of the major Feasts of the Church, and serving to announce occasions of joy, danger or mourning to those within their hearing. … The following questions form the framework on which the thesis is constructed : (i) Why were bells considered to be of such importance that they were retained in churches after the accession of Elizabeth I? (ii) Why was the number of bells in a church tower often increased when only one bell was required to satisfy Canon Law? (iii) Who provided the bells and who funded their maintenance? (iv) When were the bells rung and who rang them?