Who we are

The church of St Magnus the Martyr is a growing church in the City of London. It is part of the Diocese of London and is notable for its high and Anglo Catholic churchmanship. Regular worship takes place during the week where it attracts a congregation from within the City, and on a Sunday with a congregation drawn from all over London. The church has a musical tradition, and its organ is particularly important in the history of organ building. The church is led by the Priest-in-Charge, Fr Philip Warner.

 

 

St Magnus church from the Thames

The church is working in partnership with the Ancient Society of College Youths (ASCY) to see these bells restored. The ASCY was established in 1637 and is one of the few City of London companies to have survived from this period which remains relevant to its craft. While it never achieved livery status in the City, it represents one of the oldest bellringing organisations in the world. In London, the Society is responsible for ringing and maintaining the bells (some of which is financial maintenance) at the following churches:
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  • St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside
  • St Michael, Cornhill
  • St Giles, Cripplegate
  • St Lawrence Jewry, Gresham
  • St St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, Holborn Viaduct
It also has close links with:
  • St Paul's Cathedral
  • Southwark Cathedral

Prior to the War, the ASCY was responsible for ringing the bells of St Magnus and maintaining the fabric of the belfry. The ringing room was also used to store some of the Society’s property, including a set of handbells.

The Trustees of the Fund are:

Fr Philip Warner
Priest-in-Charge
Philip Warner Served as Priest-in-Charge of St Magnus the Martyr church since October 2003. He has served in the diocese of London since 1987 with the exception of 2000 - 2003 when at the Archbishop of Canterbury's request he served as his personal representative to the Serbian Orthodox Church and was based in Belgrade. In his three years at St Magnus, Fr Philip has been keen to renew and strengthen links with the City and its livery companies, as well as the businesses situated in the parish. He is a keen amateur organist.
Paul Mounsey
Chairman
Paul Mounsey A project manager with a major telecoms operator, having previously worked in precious metals refining. Paul has had a close and regular involvement with bellringing in the City of London for over 30 years. He is a Past Master of the Ancient Society of College Youths and currently Master of the St Paul's Cathedral Guild of Ringers.
Dickon Love
Secretary
Dickon Love A management consultant currently working in both the public and private sectors. He is a bellringer in the City of London and Past Master of the Ancient Society of College Youths as well as a member of the St Magnus congregation. Dickon has a particular interest in the history of bells in London and Kent and has worked on various installation projects in Kent and Middlesex over the past 10 years.
David Hilling
Treasurer
David Hilling A risk and controls consultant with considerable experience in roles within Financial Services and Government. During 2005 he has managed the IT component of a major compliance programme at a UK bank. His career includes assignments at international banks, UK banks, UK insurance companies and at the Home Office.  In bellringing he is conductor of the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers and is a past master of the Ancient Society of College Youths. He has established and managed charitable funds for bells restoration in Central London and in North West Kent.
John Hughes-D'Aeth
John Hughes-D'Aeth A partner of Berwin Leighton Paisner, solicitors based in Adelaide House and St Magnus House adjoining St Magnus church. He is a bellringer in the City of London and is a Past Master and the current Secretary of the Ancient Society of College Youths, as well as a trustee of the Society's Bell Restoration Fund. He is a member of the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers and is actively involved in bells and bellringing in his local area of St Albans.
Graham Ralph
Graham Ralph Currently a Deputy Director in the Home Office, Graham worked for eleven years in the Charity Commission. During that time he investigated allegations of misappropriation of charitable funds, maladministration and abuse of charitable status. He has wide experience of advising charities, their trustees and professional advisors on all aspects of their trusts including governance, trusteeship, accounting, liabilities, land transactions and permanent endowment. His last post in the Commission was as Head of Registration in the London Office leading on the registration of major new charities in London and the South East. He is Chairman of the Governors at Gravesend Grammar School and was previously a Governor of Manchester Polytechnic.
The Fundraising Committee for this appeal comprises the six trustees plus Andrew Collins (Chairman), Andrew Kelso, Michael Royalton-Kisch and Peter Rumley (Livery Liaison Officer).
Read on to hear how donations are recognised.