Hushed church bells affecting wedding bookings

Rev Ruth Clay said the continued lack of bells at St Wendreda's was proving a problem

The vicar of a Cambridgeshire church that has had to close its bell tower due to health and safety concerns said she believed the lack of pealing bells had "put off" couples getting married there.

The bells at St Wendreda's Church in March have been silent since January 2023, after damage to the 140ft (43m) tall spire was discovered.

Rev Ruth Clay said: "It's really sad when I have to tell a couple that we can't ring the bells... and perhaps, they might think that they should go somewhere else."

She is trying to raise £250,000 for the repairs. So far, £46,000 has been generated, with donations from as far away as Australia.

Damage to the spire has temporarily shut the bell tower and £250,000 needs to be raised to repair it

Mrs Clay, 60, who became vicar of St Wendreda's in 2022, said the continued silence of the bells had detrimentally affected bookings for the building.

"Couples want all the bells and whistles when they are arranging their big day," she said.

The bells had been rung at the church, famous for its 500-year-old timber ceiling, for centuries, she said, adding that residents were used to waking up to them and hearing them chime during celebrations.

Church merchandise including jigsaws and water bottles are being sold to raise money for the repairs

In September, Mrs Clay said specialists had found that metal tie bars in the church spire had corroded.

She said she did not want to go through another winter without the spire being fixed, believing any further damage could topple it.

The church has put in bids for various grants, including with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

'I miss ringing the bells'

A fifth generation bell-ringer at the church said he was really missing them chime, and said many local people had asked him when they might return.

Andrew Goakes is a fifth generation campanologist at St Wendreda's and has been bell-ringing since he was 12

Andrew Goakes, 49, said he learnt bell-ringing as a child "through peer pressure from my late father".

He said he "wasn't too keen" to start with, but eventually grew to love the pastime.

"I really miss ringing the bells at St Wendreda's," he said.

"To keep my hand in I ring at other local churches, but it'll be good to make music here once again."