Fundraising drive to re-hang Elm church tower bells half-way to success

An appeal to re-hang the bells in Elm’s church tower has reached the half-way mark.

Through grants and donations, the church has so far raised £18,000, enough to repair three of the six bells, which all need fixing.

Churchwarden Cynthia Brown said: “Our bells are very historic. Four of them were originally cast before the Civil War, but the ringing mechanisms are now over a hundred years old and have worn out.

“As a result the bells need to be lowered from the tower and the mechanism. We reckon this will cost about £6,000 per bell.

“We have raised enough money, in grants and donations, to repair three of the bells. But we really want to fix all six, so that they can be rung as a full peal once again.”

Re-hanging all six would also enable the parish to re-establish a team of ringers, Mrs Brown says.

She said: “It was a great pity that we could not join in the recent VE day anniversary, but the centenary of the end of the First World War is a date we are aiming for.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation is invited to contact Rupert Wilkes on 01945 584431.