SUSSEX CHURCHES BELL
RESTORATION FUND
BRF ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDING 31
DECEMBER 2007
2007 has been a quieter
year for the fund than previous ones. In the end financial
assistance of £6,600 has been offered.
The major project at St
Mary Stoughton has come to fruition.
The parish in the end were in the fortunate position of not requiring
any financial assistance from the fund. Much negotiation had
taken place to ensure permission from the relevant bodies so that the
ancient bell frame could be removed to its new home on display at the
Weald and Downland Museum.
This year there have been new bells cast for two churches in
Sussex. Whilst the BRF is unable to support work to provide
new bells, the fund has in each case made donations towards work on the
bells and fittings that are already present.
The first project was at St
Mary Funtington, where the old chime of
three bells has been transformed into a new ring of six
bells. A grant of £2000 was given towards the work
to improve the original bells. The second project was at St
Richard Aldwick where the ring of six has been increased
to eight
bells. At the same time, work was carried out to the fittings
of the existing six bells and a grant of £600 was given to
assist this work.
Last year’s report mentioned work to be carried out at St
Botolph Heene in Worthing. Following further
investigation it
was decided that work of a more major nature was required.
This includes various new fittings to the bells and the installation of
additional steel work to the upper part of the bell frame.
This will considerably improve the rigidity of the bell frame, and to
assist with this an increased grant of £3000 has been
offered. The work is due to now commence very early in 2008.
Another scheme that was delayed to early 2008 is at St Margaret West
Hoathly. Here the bearings of all the bells are
to be
replaced and clapper bushes overhauled. A grant of
£1000 has been promised towards the work. This
unfortunate delay was due to the bellhangers being very busy.
Finally, the major project at St
Mary Magdalene Rusper has now been
completed. The whole bell installation is much improved and
the grant of £15,000 awarded last year has been given to the
church.
In November two members of the BRF committee ran a very popular bell
maintenance morning at Shipley. Geoff Rix and Richard Verrall
should be thanked for giving up their time to show others what can be
done as routine work to keep bell installations in as good a condition
as possible.
Members of the committee have continued to carry out inspections
throughout Sussex. As has been the case in previous years,
some of these have highlighted the need for large sums of money to be
spent in the future. We are already aware of two major
projects that will be applying for financial assistance early in 2008.
From a financial perspective, the fund was very fortunate to be the
beneficiary of two large bequests during this year. We are
very grateful for these. In addition, many individuals and
Parochial church councils have kindly been able to support our work
over the past twelve months for which we thank them.
David Kirkcaldy