Christ Church bells removed

Christ Church bells removed

4 More Image(s) In Gallery

Scroll down for Video

The bells at Christ Church in Healey were removed on Thursday (6 April) in a rare and delicate event to restore and retune them.

During work on the spire, serious decay within the timbers of the 146-year old frame in the belfry came to light. The oak frames had become so rotten, the bells had to be removed to allow replacement cast fabricated steel beams to be installed.

The peal of six bells, ranging from 371kg to 803kg, were first heard ringing out on the morning of Easter Sunday 1870.

On Friday (7 April), they will be transported via truck to the John Taylor Bell Foundry in Loughborough from whence they came. Here, they will be restored and re-tuned, before being mounted on a new steel frame and re-hung in the church bell tower, in readiness for the first ring of the bells. It is estimated they will be returned by June.

The bells were originally cast in copper and tin, and will be returned with a graphite and silicon protective coating. It is estimated the bells will last for another 150 years until they need retuning again.

The oldest bell, which is also the largest, was hung in 1851, and the remaining five followed in 1870.

The five smallest bells all bear inscriptions of benefactors: Susan Jane, only daughter of Ash Royds of Falinge, the children of John and Sarah Tweedale, Miss Clegg, the four daughters of William Edward Royds of Greenhill, and teachers and scholars.

The church will also be looking for a new bell ringer when the bells return.

If you think this could be you, contact Helen Rigby on 07919 370 308.