Breede Valley, Worcester, Uniting Reformed Church

Abstract

Worcester, Rynse Kerk, Uniting Reformed Church. Like the neighbouring Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Worcester Rynse Kerk, Uniting Reformed Church has a bell tower with two bells. The two bells are made of steel and are easy to access. The larger of the two hangs on the left hand side when one enters the bell room. Both bells have the same number of moulding rings and they are identically spread over the bells. Below the shoulder are two pairs of wires. One then sees two more wires below the middle of the bell. This is followed by a fourth pair above the sound bow. Finally, one sees a single moulding wire above the lip of the bells. The reference to the foundry is set in the following sentence, Gussstahlfabrik Mayer & Kuhne Bei Bochum in Westfallen. This is followed by, (flower) 1854 (flower). On the larger bell, this reference to the foundry is seen in between the moulding wires just below the shoulder. On the smaller bell we find this reference between the wires above the sound bow. Steel bells are subjected to rust, a fact that is clearly visible on the bells. We however have been amazed to find steel bells of this age in such a good condition. Rust remains rust, but here it made rather attractive designs on the bells. The founder of the bells was the Bochumer Verein. This foundry started founding in 1847 after it merged with the steel factory Mayer & Kühne in 1854, the maker of the bells here in the Rhenish mission. The Bochumer Verein remained operational until 1970 when it amalgamated within a much larger concern owned by the Krupp-Konzern. The date on the two bells indicates that they are among the very last made by Mayer & Kühne.