Church clock chimes again after restoration work

The St Dionysius Church clock is over 100 years old

A church clock in a Leicestershire town has been restored to full working order and is chiming again after being silenced for repairs.

The clock, which is in the tower of St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough, was stopped in April after developing a problem which meant it was losing time.

The church brought in specialist repairers to identify the issue and the clock has now been carefully restored thanks to a community initiative.

Harborough District Council allocated £10,000 towards the project, which was jointly funded with Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity.

Jo Asher, the council's cabinet lead for culture, said the church was "a key part of our town's identity and preserving its legacy is important".

The clock mechanism was removed and repaired, and the church bell also cleaned during the project.

Ms Asher described the restoration as "a wonderful achievement".

"The collaboration between the council and Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity showcases the strength of our community in safeguarding our heritage for future generations," she added.

Although the clock restoration has been completed, essential maintenance still continues outside the church, with scaffolding in place until that work is finished.

Churchwarden Christine Etherington said the clock had been a "cherished part of our church for centuries" and added that the project "would not have been possible" without the district council and Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity.

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