The Use of the Sanctus Bell in Roman Liturgy
An altar bell. Source: Wikimedia Commons. PD Image.
PD Image
We now turn to another of the compelling theories for the existence of low side windows which had significant support from antiquarians in the 19th century. A quote from the autumn 2019 edition of the online magazine of the Archdiocese of New York perfectly describes the ritual of ringing a Sanctus (or sacring) bell which has taken place for hundreds of years:1
“Although it is not a required practice, an altar server often rings a small bell or bells during the consecration to draw attention to the precise moment when transubstantiation – the conversion of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ – takes place.
“The custom originated during the 11th through the 13th centuries, when theologians were attempting to define more precisely the way in which Christ is present in the Eucharist. As Catholics continued to meditate on this profound mystery, various liturgical practices were introduced in order to signal His presence on the altar under the appearance of bread and wine.“For example, in the 12th century, priests began the practice of elevating the host following the consecration. In France and England, a dark curtain was sometimes drawn to create a background against which the Eucharistic host could be seen more clearly. At early morning Masses, when it was still dark, a candle was often lit to illuminate the Eucharist at its elevation. Altar servers were even warned not to use too much incense at this part of the Mass so that the faithful’s view of the Eucharist wouldn't be obstructed. In some places, in addition to the ringing of an altar bell after the consecration, the large bells of parish churches were also rung so that those throughout the town or in the fields could pause from their work to kneel and pay honour to the Eucharistic Lord.”
“That prior to the introduction of sanctus bell-cots, and commonly where these were not erected, then at the low side window—the only real opening in the church except the doors, and this unglazed, but provided with a shutter—the sacristan stood, and at the elevation of the Host opened the shutter and rang the sanctus bell, as directed, I think, in the ancient liturgy [quoting Archbishop Peckham] than by a bell-cot, which was probably an innovation, though an elegant one. There is no example of the latter earlier perhaps than transition Norman, whereas of the former there is one of the Saxon period, it seems, at Caistor; and the cot was not as general as the window, which continued in use down to plain Perpendicular.”
In his book, Church Treasures in the Oxford District,3 Ford suggests that openings high above the floor in a number of Saxon or transitional churches’ western towers which faced the altar might have been used by the sacristan to witness the Elevation of the Host and ring the large bell in the tower. He cites the example of St Matthew’s, Langford, Oxfordshire, famous for its exceptional 11th century crossing tower, and which has large openings high in both its east and west faces which would have been suitable for such a purpose.
The chief objection to the generality of the theory is that small bells rung through a small opening would not have been heard at any distance from the church, especially if there was a breeze taking the sound in the opposite direction to the intended audience. The ringing of larger bells to alert people who were further afield would make sense, but large towers with bells, or bell cotes fit for that purpose were not much in evidence until the 15th or 16th centuries. Houghton4 suggested that the LSW would be placed on the side of the church which faced towards the majority of houses in a village in order for a bell to be more easily heard by the parishioners i their homes. However, even a cursory review of the disposition of a village in relation to the churches of Warwickshire which Houghton surveyed proves that this is by no means universal, and there is poor correlation to advance that particular argument. Furthermore, in order to alert those in widely distributed fields, an omnidirectional sound would have been required. It is possible that a small bell would alert those already gathered close to the church, possibly for those unable to enter, or barred (for whatever reason) from entering the church, allowing them to participate in the service. Bond 5 suggests that:“On holidays of obligation, of which there were plenty, on which parishioners were bound to attend the parish mass, there might not be room inside the church, and a certain number might be forced to follow the service as best they could from outside”.
St Mary Magdalene, Wardington, Oxfordshire. A rare example of an extant 14th century bell cote on the east gable of the nave.
An excellent example of this conundrum can be found at St Mary's Over, Cambridgeshire. Here there is a bell cote on the east of the nave, the rope for which passes through the roof via a pulley system running to the north west corner of the chancel. The cote still contains a bell, which appears to be functional to this day. The nave clearstory was added in the c15, along with the aisles, but the bell cote stonework looks considerably older, so may have been part of the much earlier c12 nave, and retained as part of that rebuilding. If so, then St Mary's has had a Sanctus bell from the outset. What is also of interest in this church is the opening high in the east wall of the tower, and just below an earlier nave roof line which is still visible - illustrated in the slide pack for this section. The old roof line shows the pitch of the roof which covered the narrow nave prior to its widening and addition of the clearstory. The tower itself was built in the early c14.6 Anyone standing at that opening would have had a view of the high altar, ready to ring a bell in the tower at any given signal, including the raising of the Host. In addition, there are two low side windows (now blocked) on the north and south west corners of the chancel.
St Mary's church at Over, Cambridgeshire therefore presents a significant problem for the Sanctus bell theory. If there was a c12 Sanctus bell on the east end of the nave gable which could be operated by a sacristan standing in the chancel, and witness to the elevation of the Host, and at a later date in the early c14, a bell tower with a high opening from which someone could see the altar and ring a bell from that vantage point, thereby giving ample provision for ringing a bell which would have been widely heard around the church, why would there be a need for two low side openings supposedly there for ringing of a Sanctus bell?
A similar arrangement can be seen at St Andrew's, Lyddington, Rutland. The tower and chancel were built in the first half of the c14.7 Internally, on the east wall of tower, the original nave roof line which predates the clearstory is still visible. Below this roof line is a large opening (now blocked up) which, like Over, would have commanded a view of the high altar. Lyddington also has a low side window at the south west corner of the chancel.
References & Footnotes: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.
- https://archwaysmag.org/when-and-why-do-the-altar-servers-ring-a-bell-at-mass.
- Cole, J. G. Journ. Arch. Inst. March 1848.
- Ford, E. B. Church Treasures in the Oxford District, 1984, pp71-72
- Houghton, F. T. S. The Low Side Windows of Warwickshire Churches 1906.
- Bond, Francis. An Introduction to English Architecture, 1918, p687.
- See British History Online. Over Church. A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely, Vol9. pp351-353.
- British History Online. Liddington Church. A History of the County of Rutland: Volume 2. pp188-195. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1935.