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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 27 May 2014. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Villagers are set to celebrate the return of their historic church bells in a special service of re-dedication at St. Etheldreda's Church, Horley, on Sunday 1 st June at 10. 30 am.
The service, led by the Right Revd Colin Fletcher, the Bishop of Dorchester, will be the exciting culmination of many months of planning and hard work.
The service will also see the licensing of the Revd Dr Hugh White as House for Duty Associate Priest in the Ironstone benefice, of which Horley is one of the eight churches. Cast by the well known local foundry, Bagley's of Chacombe, in 1706, the four bells had been ringing out to celebrate weddings and call worshipers to Sunday services as well as marking funerals, and important national events for nearly 300 years. Twenty five years ago disaster struck.
The ancient frame, built by the Williams brothers of Kings Sutton, was declared unsafe for ringing due to water damage from some leaky guttering.
As a result the bells fell silent. Thanks to the enthusiasm of local people keen to hear them in action again a project to restore the frame and bells, augment them to 6 and re-establish ringing in the village has had impressive results. Work was carried out over the winter, and by March a new band of ringers was ready to take to the ropes to try them out.
In April the new bells rang for their first wedding celebration in a quarter of a century. More information about the bells at Horley, and photographs can be found on the "Horley Bell Tower" Facebook page.
For further details please contact:
Verna Wass
Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers Public Relations Officer
verna. wass@btinternet. com 01295 758222
Alison Tite
Horley Tower Secretary
aandj. tite@gmail. com 01295 738334
The Oxford Diocesan Guild covers all parishes in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.