The Bells, the Bells...

The Bells – Ringing Again!

Many people around the village have said how nice it was to hear the bells ringing on Easter Sunday morning – a sign of hope in these times. It was the first time they've been rung since Christmas, and only the second time in the last year that all six bells have been heard.

Today, they'll be ringing again. As you perhaps know, ABRA is an appeal to raise money to restore the bells – click here for details https://chesterdg.org.uk/brf-projects-audlem-01/

Currently the bell installation is in quite poor condition. In particular, the frame is meant to hold the bells completely rigidly, but it’s currently moving when the bells ring, which could damage the tower.

We have had reports from professional bell hangers about what needs to be done, but they don’t all agree: can the frame be strengthened, or do we need a new one? To replace it, we’d need very good justification, because of its heritage value.

To help us decide, and provide any necessary justification, an independent structural engineer will be inspecting the frame and tower today. He will provide a full report on their condition, and what has to be done to ensure that the bells can continue to ring for the next century.

We’ll be ringing at midday, so that he can see exactly what’s going on. Listen out!