Jubilee Bells

On 6th April, Nick Ward presented an interesting, illustrated talk on the use of bells starting in 300 AD when hand bells were used by priests in Rome to call citizens to church services, moving through the centuries to 975 when the Archbishop of Canterbury made, through canon law, a compulsory requirement to install at least one bell in each church. Nick said there are now 5,000 bell towers in the UK.

The bells in St. Cuthbert's are not allowed to be rung because of deterioration in the  bell support structure. The Over Kellet project is to remove the existing 3 bells from St. Cuthbert's bell tower and install an 8 bell peal using bells from a redundant church, St.James, Church Kirk near Accrington. The bells have now been removed from the church tower and are in storage at Taylor Bells in Loughborough awaiting completion of the project funding. Three bells will be recast and made slightly lighter so as to assist bellringers. 

The total cost of the project is £100,000 and grants already received have now reduced the amount to raise to around £12,000. 

Members saw part of a video showing the bell casting and tuning processes - all requiring a wide range of skills. During the recasting the bell will have the wording  "Cast in Commemoration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth 11 and Accession of King Charles 111 together with the heraldic arms of the Duke of Lancaster".

This project has attracted support from the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers who recognise the value of an easily accessible  peal of 8 bells for change ringing. Over Kellet Primary School is keen to involve pupils in the project, as future bellringers.