Hope Revealed

Hope Revealed

Sarah Clewer, May 2018

One cloudy afternoon on the last weekend in May, 2013, I was walking with my daughter, Eden, then age 7, through the Bargate in Southampton city centre.  After we strolled through the archway, the towering structure was visible to her, and she looked up toward the sky.  Eden has always been very inquisitive.  

‘Mummy who is that man up there?’, she wondered out loud.  

My eyes followed the stonework and rested on a statue which was set into the stonework near the top.  

‘I’m not sure…’, my voice trailed off.   

We turned and noticed a plaque a few feet away with what appeared to be an explanation of the history of the Bargate.  As we read, we did not find any information about the statue (which I later researched and found is of King George III), but we did discover something else.  The information we were reading made reference to a bell - a ‘curfew’ or ‘alarm’ bell - which was installed in 1605 and is located at the very top, left corner.  I had never noticed it before.  Intrigued, we continued reading to find that the inscription on it reads ‘In God is my hope R.B 1605’  

Later that evening as I was lying in bed, I could not stop thinking about the bell.  Nor the next night, or the next.  I wondered when the last time was that it was rung and concluded that it must be a very long time ago.  I had dreams about it; when I woke in the morning it was the first thing on my mind.  I decided I would find out more.  

After searching online, I found the name of someone called John Avery, a member of the Southampton Heritage Federation, and his contact email address.  I sent him a message rather out of the blue, which I’m sure he was surprised to receive!  I took an interest in the history of the bell, told him the story of how my daughter and I had discovered it, and asked him if we could go up and view it.  I wasn’t sure if or when a reply would arrive and was excited when it did the very next day.  He said that the Bargate was no longer open to the public, but that he would be at a meeting the following week with someone who may be able to give me more information and hopefully an answer to my question.  I waited.

Then one morning I was thrilled to find an email from John had arrived.  He explained that the person he had hoped to speak to at the meeting hadn’t been there but would be at another meeting in two weeks’ time; he promised he would speak to him then.  I continued to ponder and mull over this bell, and what it was that God was saying to me through it.  My overwhelming feeling was that it needed to ring again, and I was not entirely sure why.

Two weeks later an email arrived from Dr Andy Russel, Archaeologist for Southampton City Council.  He explained that he would be very happy to take us up into the Bargate so that we could view the bell!  Eden and I were full of excitement!

We have a very dear friend who came to mind at this point.  Originally Richard had moved to this area to attend Southampton University, where he earned a BSc in Civil Engineering, followed by an MSc in Advanced Structural Engineering.  Years later he went on to complete a post graduate diploma; his dissertation was ‘The Conservation of Historic City Walls.’  Like many others I know who came to the city as students, he decided to stay, and he and his wife have raised their children here.  I have always thought of him as a sort of modern day Nehemiah.  Immediately I knew I needed to ask him to accompany us when we went up with Dr Russel, so that he could inspect the bell, to give his expert advice as to whether it could be rung again.

On a September afternoon we met Dr Russel at a very large, heavy, ancient looking black door on the right side of the building.  He fumbled for his keys and it slowly creaked open.  Before us was a cold, steep, stone staircase, which led to another door, until we found ourselves in a broad, long room; we could see the stained-glass windows visible from the outside.  At the end of that room there was a short corridor, and then a black metal spiral staircase, narrow and steep.  We felt dizzy by the time we were at the top, but immediately came to our senses as we found ourselves on the roof, staring directly at the bell!  

We edged toward it, chatting with Dr Russel, who was very pleased to speak with us about the fascinating history of where we were standing.  Incidentally, Richard and the archaeologist had been former work colleagues, so they were catching up as well.  Richard had a thorough look at the bell.  The internal mechanism which had created the sound in the past (the bell had been rung by pulling on a rope attached from below) had deteriorated over time, but he assured us it would still make the same sound when struck with a mallet.  ‘I have one at home!’, he said.

Dr Russel then explained that we needed to gain permission from the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and Leisure, Stephen Barnes-Andrews.  At that time, Councillor Barnes-Andrews was responsible for managing and maintaining resources within the city, including history and heritage.  As soon as I returned home I crafted a letter to him and posted it on 3 October 2014.  In the letter I reiterated that the bell holds a special place in the city’s history and needed to be rediscovered.

Christmas came and went and I had no reply.  I was so disappointed.  In January a friend of mine encouraged me to write again.  A reply arrived straight away stating the initial letter had never been received, and permission was granted to ring the bell!

A date was arranged with Dr Russel, Richard, myself and Eden at the Bargate for a Friday afternoon in March, and anticipation was building!  Eden was telling all her friends and teachers at school and inviting people to come and hear it.  I gathered a few friends to join us.  After some said they would be unable to make it, there were 16 people in total who committed to be there.  As I was planning how we would go about ringing it, I realised there are 16 wards in the city!  So, we planned to strike it 16 times, once for each ward.  

Sadly, one week before the scheduled date, my 38-year-old brother-in-law, James, suddenly died.  The grief felt overwhelming.  I did not want to go through with our appointment at the Bargate but resolved we would not cancel as we had persevered and waited almost a year for this to take place.  Incidentally, the last conversation my husband ever had with his brother was beside the Bargate, very near to the bell, visible to us when we would be ringing it.  We were dreading going back there, but at the same time we knew it was the right thing to do.  

On 24 March, 2015, at 4:30 in the afternoon, we all climbed up together, and Eden had the first ring, followed by 15 others, and we prayed and declared hope over the city!  When I asked the archaeologist about the last time the bell had been rung, he was unsure.

This is a prayer I wrote for Southampton which we read out:

A Prayer for Southampton

Father, we ask that at the sound of this bell's ringing,

that you would bring a resurrection of hope in the hearts of all the people of this city. Bringing life where there is death. Hope where there is heartsickness and disappointment. Circumstances may disappoint, but You don’t disappoint us.

Father you are the embodiment of Hope, so Holy Spirit would you open the eyes of all people here and reveal the heart of love that Jesus has for the people of Southampton. As they put their trust in you, will you fill them with all joy and peace.

And would you breathe your breath on this city, changing the temperature, so that everyone is awakened as the season changes to a glorious springtime. A time for all that has been hidden to be revealed. A time for marvelling at the beauty of God and the transformation He brings. A time for restoration. A time for all prodigal sons and daughters to come back home.

So, people of Southampton, can you hear the sound of Hope?

It’s time to wake up because your ‘Valley of Achor’ is now becoming a Door of Hope.

The season of singing has now come!

 March 24, 2015