Three new bells increase number in ring at churchpublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 22 June 2020
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Eight old bells are being temporarily removed from a Suffolk church and a new set of three cast in The Netherlands will join them to create a ring of 10.
Work has already started on the bells to be rehung in the tower of the church of St Peter and St Mary, external in Stowmarket this week.
Bellhangers are overseeing the removal of the old eight and the first of the new bells were due to be taken down to the aisle today.
"It will take two or three days before all eight are down and then they will be taken by lorry to Bridport, Dorset where work will begin to refurbish and establish a new ring of 10," Lynda Rochester of the Stowmarket Bells Project Team, said.
"One of the old bells (the treble) is in poor condition and will not be kept. We anticipate the new ring of 10 bells to be brought to Stowmarket from Bridport in the summer and look forward to welcoming visitors as soon as safety regulations allow.”
The new treble is in memory of the much loved doctor Peter Franks and his wife Sheila.
The £179,000 project has been funded by grants and donations, including a £95,100 Heritage Lottery Fund, external windfall.