Aylsham church bells to ring out again soon

News RoomAugust 18, 2023

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Aylsham Parish Church are celebrating the return of its ten bells which have been repaired and restored, and are currently being re-installed in the tower.

The Aylsham Church team discovered in March 2021 that seven out of the ten historic bells, one dating back to 1700, had cracks to the heads to a degree that made them unsafe to ring. A fundraising campaign was launched which raised over £47,000 thanks to the generosity of many supporters.

The bells were lowered from the church tower back in March and transported to Soundweld Ltd in Newmarket to have all their cracks cut out and repaired using specialised repair techniques. Once the bells had been repaired, they were sent on to Nicholson Engineering Ltd Church Bell Works in Bridport so that the bells could be fitted with their headstocks and made ready for being rehung in the church tower.

All ten bells were returned to Aylsham church on Monday August 14 and displayed in the south aisle of the church, decked with flowers, ready for the special re-dedication service for the bells that evening when the whole town was invited to come together to celebrate. The Dean of Norwich, The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, pictured right, said special prayers of blessing.

The Revd Canon Julie Boyd, Rector for Aylsham Parish Church said, “We are very much looking forward to hearing the bells ring out into the town once more. They have been silent for over three years now; how joyful it will be to hear them!

“We are very grateful for all the local support for this project, including all the generous donations, those volunteering alongside the bellhangers as they carry out the work in the church and to all those who have been part of the ground support team, welcoming people, keeping them safe and serving refreshments from the other end of the church.”

Visit aylshamparishchurch.org.uk