Every Tuesday lunchtime, the tower of the Barkingside church is, once again, alive with the tolling of bells. For years, the bells were broken and silent, but as part of the centenary celebrations, they have been restored. The restoration was completed in 2006

Unlike those in many churches, the bells here at Barkingside are "static": 'These hung "static" bells enabled children to pull the ropes without difficulty from what is called a Ellacombe Rack which is at the entrance of the church and can be seen photo left. The church bells are more like a big bicycle bell with a prong that rings against their side when the ropes are pulled.

The 'children's church' at Barkingside was first dedicated for worship in 1894 by the Bishop of Colchester. And it was not only the bells that were geared toward children. Everything about the church was downsized for smaller people, including the pews and stained glass windows, which were purposely built lower than usual.

Six hemispherical chiming bells were originally hung in the tower when it was first built in 1892 were made by Mears & Stainbank then in 1926, two more bells were added - cast by the same Whitechapel Foundry. This is the set of bells that has been restored today. But the best-tuned bells can't ring on their own and so, once restoration was completed, a campaign was started to recruit ringers. Despite an invitation to all staff at Barnardo's Head Office, the main volunteers have been After Care staff and National Council member Mark Gill. I came along in the summer to give them a demonstration and a lesson: said Dennis Ellisdon. Now the Barnardo's staff ring the bells beautifully by themselves.

After Care and Barnardo's staff Val Clark, Kate Roach, Martine King, and Mark Gill are regular ringers and they all took a turn at the centenary celebrations. 'It's surprisingly good fun: said After Care researcher Val Clark. 'It's easy to do and it's good to know that we are carrying on a tradition that was first begun over 100 years ago.

The Barnardo Guild Messenger Winter 2005
With further information added about the bells

A little more about the the children's church. If you are aware of any more information please let me know so we can together fill the gaps. In my back issues of the Barnardo Guild magazine I have scanned the information below:

I am sure many Old Boys and Girls will be most interested to know that special mention was made at the weekly staff devotional service by Mr Nick Lowe, Appeals Director, that our Village Church celebrated 90 years on 25th June 1982, having been dedicated on 25th June 1892. Mr Lowe drew attention to the lovely stained glass windows and read out the following extracts about the reason for the church being built.

Something Attempted Something Done: 'But hardly less urgent is the need of the Children's Church. At present the children meet for divine service in their old schoolroom at Mossford Lodge. When the cottages are full, nearly 1,100 children will be resident and at least 100 adults will be constantly engaged in the work. A church to seat 1,200 or 1,400 people is therefore urgently and immediately required. I have at the entrance of The Village an admirable freehold site, and plans are ready, showing that such a church can be built for £2,900, which is an exceedingly economical rate. The architect Ebeneezer Gregg has the plans drawn-up.

From Annual Report 1892: 'A lady who has long aided me liberally in the development of the work among waif and destitute girls came forward spontaneously some time ago, and after carefully enquiring into all the facts, generously offered to build us a Children's Church for the united worship of The Village.'

From Night and Day, June 1892: 'We hereby invite all our readers to pay a visit to the Girls' Village Home on Saturday 25th June, when the memorial stone of the Children's Church, now being erected, will be placed in position.'

From Night and Day, January 1893: 'My readers will be glad to know that at last the Children's Church at our Ilford Village Home is nearly completed. I hope to hear the Gospel preached within its walls early this year. This building is the expression of an act of Christian beneficence as generous as it is rare in our history; one lady having promised the whole of the money necessary to erect the church. A Memorial Stone was affixed in the porch at a very interesting and delightful meeting held at Ilford last summer, when a numerous company of my helpers assembled at a little Dedication Service. I should like to place upon record in these pages a note of the little inscription which the memorial tablet bears: It runs as follows:

This Church is dedicated to the glory of God
in loving memory of her father and mother
 by their daughter, 25th June 1892.

'Both young men and maidens; old men and children; let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.' Psalm 148:12 ‑13

The Rev J. H. Batt recorded in his book "Dr. Barnardo The Father of Nobody's Children" regarding the church: You are first conducted to the Children's Church, a fine building with sitting accommodation for twelve hundred children, plain and unadorned, yet beautiful in its simplicity an ideal place of worship for its purpose. It is seated throughout with comfortable children's pews, so distributed that each " mother " sits with her own family during Divine worship. The church is the gift of a lady and in the porch of the main entrance under the tower is the following inscription:

What this magnificent gift cost, and who the donor is, are facts only privately known; for the lady who made the gift to the Village Home for ever has desired nothing to be made public concerning it that can be kept secret.

The use of it is tinder the control of Dr. Barnardo. It is an " unconsecrated " church by preference, in order that Dr. Barnardo may be free to invite ministers other than the clergy of the Church of England to conduct services, or Christian men to do so who are not ministers. A godly Chaplain, an earnest‑minded evangelical man, is in charge, who holds his " license " under the Bishop of the Diocese, and is responsible for the conduct of the ordinary services. A door against the main road is opened at the time of worship when the children are all in their places, to admit the public who desire to attend, as far as accommodation can be found for them. The voices of a. thousand young people joining in a simply conducted service must create a desire in many persons to enjoy the privilege of being present.

From Annual Report 1893: 'I am glad to announce that at last the Children's Church at our Girls' Village Home, Ilford is an accomplished fact. This is one of the most encouraging and satisfactory advances of the year, for we have long been sadly hampered in regard to the arrangements for the united worship of the girls. The new structure is a beautiful building. Besides accommodating 1,000 girls with their 'mothers' one aisle is reserved for the use of public. The church is provided with a very pretty peal of bells.'

From Annual Report 1894: 'The church was dedicated in April 1894, for the worship of the children at a special service by the late Bishop of Colchester. Here the children attend Divine service thrice a week and space is reserved for the general public, who are heartily welcomed.'

We are also pleased to be able to print a photograph of the church, and would mention that one of the bells is rung each week to remind staff that the weekly service is due to begin.

In it's heyday hymns were peeled off by boys and girls who wanted to learn how to ring the church bells.

Click on photo to see a full colour print of the centre section window.

For some more information on the Children's Church click here or a list of all Essex Churches click Here

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Please note this web site does not in any way speak for Barnardo's. Its purpose is purely for research and historical interest.