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The Bells of St. Margarets

The Bells of St. Margarets
St. Margarets was founded in 1197 but the original church burned down in 1440. It was rebuilt at the expense of Robert Large who was Lord Mayor of London at the time of the disaster. The second church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666 but rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1690.
The "Bullseyes and Targets" refer to archery which was practised in the nearby fields. In 1363 King Edward III had commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays. This tradition continued, thus ensuring the safety of the Realm, until Bows were replaced with guns.

 

A Picture of Archer's practising with a church in the background
Church first then obligatory practice!
 

The Bells of St. Margarets 

Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town

"Oranges and Lemons" say the
Bells of St. Clements
"Bullseyes and Targets" say the
Bells of St. Margaret's
"Brickbats and Tiles" say the
Bells of St. Giles
"Halfpence and Farthings" say the
Bells of St. Martin's
"Pancakes and Fritters" say the
Bells of St. Peter's
"Two Sticks and an Apple" say the Bells of Whitechapel
"Maids in white aprons" say the
Bells at St. Katherine's
"Pokers and Tongs" say the Bells of St. John's
"Kettles and Pans" say the
Bells of St. Anne's
"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow Bells of Aldgate
"You owe me Ten Shillings" say the
Bells of St. Helen's
"When will you Pay me?" say the
Bells of Old Bailey
"When I grow Rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch
"Pray when will that be?" say the
Bells of Stepney
"I do not know" say the
Great Bell of Bow
Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town

The Bells of St. Margarets 

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