The Wooden Bell of Ripon
The narrative unfolds in Ripon, where an ancient chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen houses a peculiar wooden bell, painted to resemble metal. The chapel, neglected and untouched by restoration, serves as a backdrop for a tale involving the Dean of Ripon, a man of questionable integrity. The Dean, seeking funds to replenish his wine cellar, appropriates the chapel's endowment meant for a resident chaplain and daily services. To raise money, he removes the wooden bell, claiming it was sold to a foundry, and uses the proceeds to purchase fine port. This act stirs discontent among the townspeople, who view it as sacrilege. Under pressure, the Dean reinstates the bell, which remains silent and unused. As spring arrives, local boys, intrigued by the bell, discover its true nature when one pulls on the rope and finds it lacks a clapper and is not hollow. This revelation forces the Dean to hide the bell again, embarrassed by the exposure of his deceit. The story takes a turn when the Dean encounters a boy stealing apples from his garden. In a fit of rage, he threatens the boy with punishment, only to learn that the boy's father crafted the wooden bell for him. This revelation prompts the Dean to retreat, realizing the bell's significance and the unintended consequences of his actions. Years later, a subsequent Dean investigates the tale and uncovers a bell that had been stored in the cathedral crypt, confirming that the original wooden bell was never sold. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the Dean's misdeeds and the enduring legacy of the wooden bell, which symbolizes both folly and redemption in the community's memory.
By Sabine Baring-Gould · First published 1898 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Satire · 1,190 words
First lines
Near the railway station at Ripon is a quaint block of old almshouses, with an ancient chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, of grey stone, backed by a grove of elms. The little chapel contains some curious wood carving, the original stone altar, and a large oak chest in which reposes a solitary curiosity -- a wooden bell, painted grey-green. The chapel is fortunately unrestored, left in its picturesque antiquity to moulder away. Any one who had seen the chapel of Barden Tower some years ago, and what it has become under the hand of the restorer, will know what it is to be grateful that a venerable relic of antiquity has not been furbished up to suit modern taste. That St. Mary Magdalen's would have fallen into bad hands had it been given over to restoration may be judged by the hideous new chapel which the authorities have recently erected close to the almshouses.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wooden Bell of Ripon is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sabine Baring-Gould, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Sabine Baring-Gould
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Satire, Short Story, Religious Fiction
- Length: 1,190 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Wooden Bell of Ripon by Sabine Baring-Gould
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Wooden Bell of Ripon?
- How does this short story by Sabine Baring-Gould fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- To A Professional Eulogist by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lords Prayer On A Coin by Ambrose Bierce
- A Fool by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical context, involving characters and events related to the past of Ripon.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores themes of morality, community, and the consequences of actions, typical of literary fiction.
- Satire — The story critiques the behavior of the Dean and societal attitudes towards religion and authority, employing humor and irony.
- Short Story — The work is concise and presents a complete narrative arc, characteristic of short stories.
Tags
Ripon · wooden bell · chapel · St. Mary Magdalen · almshouses · antiquity · Dean W · curiosity · restoration · church · tale · historical