A Handbook to St Mary Redcliffe Church, J. Chilcott 1848

36 ST. MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH.
were accumulated together, and a bonfire made of the
heap, amidst the rejoicings and acclamatious of the popu
lace. After doing all the injury their excited minds
could conceive, they paraded the streets with streamers
torn from the surplices, using the organ pipes for trum
pets, as they marched triumphantly along.
In the year 1709, the church underwent repair by
means of a brief for £5,000; the chamber of the city
contributing £200. In 1762 the bells were re-cast, and
subsequent to that period two more bells have been added
to the number. In 1796 the church was again repaired,
and the pinnacles on the south side rebuilt. As lately
as April 2, 1821, during a tremendous storm at midnight,
the electric fluid struck the north end of the tower, and
entering the upper bell- loft window, forced out the stones
in different directions, and making a large aperture, so
shattered the beam which supported one of the bells, as
to render it useless. It then passed down the bell wire,
and escaped on the south side of the tower; rolling up
the lead from the roof, and dislodging nearly three hun
dred weight of stone. The pieces of wire which were
found, had all the appearance of having been subject to
an intense heat.
The following, being a list of stage furniture)“ neces~
sary for the exhibition of what was then termed a
" Walpole in his Miscellanies, dated 1778, says that Vertue, the engraver,
transcribed it from some old parchments in St. Mary Radcliffe twenty years
ago; and adds, “ That was the origin of Chatterton’s list of great painters,
and probably of his other inventions, Can it be supposed that Vertue should
have seen that old bill, and with his inquisitive and diligent turn not have
inquired whether there was nothing more 7"