Mossel Bay, Catholic Church

Abstract

Mossel Bay, Catholic Church. There is a very impressive set of three bells in the wide tower of the Saint Blaize Catholic Church in Mossel Bay. When one enters the bell room, the three bells are hanging next to each other with the largest in the middle. However, only one side of the bells has been visible to us and even then only with the necessary efforts. The decorations on the bells are identical so that the only differences are the physical and acoustical measurements of the bells. On the shoulder of the bells one finds a first decorative freeze with flowers and angels playing the violin. Below this a band, surrounded by moulding wires, that runs around the bells and with the following text: + A.D. 1964 + Petit & Fritsen Aarle-Rixtel, Holland + We expect that on the reverse side of the bells stands, “Supplied By South African Organ Builders Pty Limited, Silverton”. Then follows a second decorative band with hanging flowers. On the visible side of the bells appears the crest or seal of the foundry. It contains 3 bells (1 and 2) on which one can find the words, Soli Deo Gloria (Solely to the Glory of God). Above the sound bow one finds a further set of five moulding wires. The Royal Bell Foundry Petit & Fritsen is the third oldest family business in the whole of the Netherlands. It started operations in 1660 and remained one of the main bell founders in the world. In 2012 it was amalgamated with the Koninklijke Eijsbouts in Asten, the Netherlands. We have found information on this specific bells in the Regionaal Historisch Centrum, Eindhoven that houses the archives of the foundry. We learned from these archives that South African Organ Builders (SAOB) often ordered a bulk of bells from Petit & Fritsen without giving information of their ultimate destination. This happened rather frequently in the sixties of last century. Even when we know the date of delivery, it is an almost impossible task to try to find out where these bells ultimately ended up. From the archives we learned however that the founder had been approached on 10 May 1949 with a request for the price for 3 bells. However, we found no proof of the actual order.