THE appeal to restore the church bells at Newnham has a new patron in Countess Bathurst.

Lady Bathurst discovered a love for the Forest after running the election earlier this year for a new verderer and she recently bought a small property in Whitecroft.

It is hoped the support of the countess – who learnt to ring bells as a teenager in her home town of Lyme Regis, Dorset – will raise the profile of the campaign.

Countess Bathurst said: “To be asked to be constructively involved in a project within the Forest of Dean brings me enormous pleasure because it is a very special area and it is filled with history.

“I feel passionate about protecting things like this because for centuries bells have rung over Newnham and it would be a tragedy for that to stop. 

“I think a church has always been the centre of a community – it is a place where people naturally turn in times of joy, sorrow and emergency and so to have the support of the community is incredibly important in a project such as this.”

Bells have rung at Newnham since 1603 but the bell fittings, frame and belfry floor are all in a poor state and a complete restoration is needed.

Appeal chairman Cam Dickie said: “We’ve tried patching things up over the last 40 years but the bell fittings are very old.

“Two of the bells are in such a bad state that it would be dangerous to ring them.

“If bell ringing is to survive in Newnham we need a thorough refurbishment – we’ll replace all the fittings, shot-blast and re-coat the cast iron frame and re-lay the rotting belfry floor.”

Three of the bells will be re-cast because the bells installed in 1894 are “dangerously heavy” for the tower at St Peter’s Church.

Mr Dickie added: “These improvements will make Newnham tower one of the best in the Forest of Dean in which to learn the art of ringing.”

The appeal has already raised £40,000 but another £100,000 is needed. As well as applications for grants and fund-raising activities, there will also be an opportunity for benefactors to sponsor one of the new bells.