I can hear the bells…. The South Creake bells!
This weekend, the bells of St Mary’s Church, South Creake, will ring for the first time in over five decades!
On Sunday 7th December 2014, St Mary’s is holding a combined service of Blessing of the Bells and Benefice Confirmation at 2.30pm, led by the Bishop of Lynn, The Right Rev’d Jonathan Meyrick to celebrate the successful completion of their bell restoration project.
St Mary’s Church, South Creake © Allan Barton
Earlier this year, St Mary’s was awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, supplemented by their own fundraising and generous local donations, and meant that the Parochial Church Council (PCC) were able to carry out extensive restoration work as well as install an Ellacombe Chiming Apparatus, which will allow one person to ring all 5 bells at once from ground level.
The Bells of St Mary’s, South Creake
As part of the project, St Mary’s worked with Ugly Studios to create an interpretation board on the history of the bells and how they will now be rung, as well as an informational leaflet that visitors can take away with them.
Artwork by Ugly Studios
Ever since the 14th century, from which the present tower dates, there have been bells to call villagers to worship at St Mary’s Church. The original bells were melted down in 1826 and recast to make the current set, but shortly before WWII the bells were found to have fallen into disrepair. Though were chimed singly on occasion, the bells were no longer heard as a full ring.
Repair work was done by The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, and more information on the church, the bell restoration and this weekend’s service can be found on the church website, here.
Congratulations to everyone who chimed in with the project! (Ba-Dum-Tss!)
