The oldest of the cathedral bells is the Murphy Bell. A ring of 12 bells with an additional semitone was added in 1996.

Immediately following the death of Bishop Murphy in 1858, a collection was taken up "to erect the Murphy Bell, that in it they might hear their beloved shepherd's voice, though the shepherd's own beloved voice was stilled in death".

The Murphy Bell was cast by bell founder J Murphy of Dublin in 1859, one year after the death of Bishop Murphy. Housed in a temporary belfry until the first stage of the tower was completed in 1926, the bell's Latin inscription reads: "In memory of The Most Reverend Francis Murphy, first Bishop of Adelaide. A good and faithful administrator from AD 1844 until the day of his death on 26 April 1858 at the age of 63. [The bishop's motto follows] Lord, I resist not the labour". The bell was housed in an iron shed on the Victoria Square side of the building until the 1926 cathedral additions gave it a home.

The ring includes the Vaughan Bells cast in 1881, a tenor bell and the five smallest bells. Seven of the original eight Vaughan Bells came from St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. They had been commissioned from Mears and Stainbank (now Whitechapel Bell Foundry) by Archbishop Vaughan and were purchased for St Francis Xavier's cathedral by Miss Lena Lewis. They are numbers 5 to 11 of the present ring. The tenor bell was replaced after it became cracked. That new tenor remains in Sydney and Miss Lewis had another one cast for St Francis Xavier's Cathedral. Its name (SS Peter and Paul) is not inscribed on it. The estate of Miss Lewis financed the casting of five smaller bells in 1995. These bear names of the founders of religious orders that have worked in the parish.

The bells are rung each Sunday prior to the 11am and 6pm masses. Any visiting bell ringers are welcome to participate.

Contact the Captain of the Bell Tower or the Ringing Master for practice times.

The St Francis Xavier's Cathedral Society of Bellringers welcomes new ringers.
Click for further details click here.

For more information about change bell ringing go to The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers web site.

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