CHURCH officials in Newnham are awaiting a structural engineer’s report to discover whether their Victorian church bells can be fully-restored.  

Over a century of wear and tear have left the bells of St Peter’s notoriously difficult to ring, and despite an expected bill of well over £100,000, the church is determined to revitalise bell-ringing in the village. But the viability of their plan depends on the report, expected in the New Year.

If the frame can be made safe the church will go ahead with plans to raise £135,000 to carry out their scheme. This involves modernising fixtures and fittings, reducing the overall weight of the bells and constructing a new floor a third of the way up the tower.

Tower captain, Jane Curtis says: “We’ve been patching up as best we can for the last 30 years but despite our efforts the seventh is now silenced due to a cracked bearing, and most of the other bearings are badly worn and uneven. 

“The headstocks have dried out, the bells are out of balance and the clappers need replacing. Ringing the Newnham bells has become so challenging that only a handful of ringers in the whole of the Forest are still willing to try.”

St Peter’s has the benefit of being one of the few belfries in the Forest of Dean to have eight bells. Rob James, the vicar of St Peter’s, has been a driving force behind the project.

He said: “Our peal of eight is part of Newnham’s heritage and we shouldn’t allow them to fall into disuse. 

“This is a once in a century opportunity to do a complete refurbishment which will secure the future of bell ringing in the village.”

A local committee has been appointed to oversee the project. 

Treasurer, Mike Bacon, is hopeful that the extra expense of casting new bells can be covered by offering benefactors the chance to sponsor a bell and to have a dedication of their choice cast into the metal at the foundry.

“Sponsors, if they wish, will be able to watch their bell being cast at the foundry, and we’ll invite them to be guest of honour when it is rung for the first time.”

There is an open evening in St Peter’s Church from 6.30pm-8.30pm on Friday, January 22. Wine will be served and exhibits will be on display to explain what needs to be done.