THE historic bells at All Saints’ Church in Monk Sherborne have been retuned and re-hung – thanks to the sterling efforts of villagers.

Through the All Saints Bell Restoration Project committee, launched in June 2013, £30,000 was raised to safeguard the future of the bells.

David Cullum, steeple keeper at the mediaeval church, had expected it would take two years to complete the work, so he was delighted that it was completed ahead of schedule.

He said: “We have been amazed with the support we’ve had from the local people. It was totally unexpected that we would have completed the project so quickly.

“We effectively raised £30,000 in 11 months and only about two per cent of that is grant aid. The rest is all private contributions.”

Four of All Saints’ five bells were removed by bellhangers Whites of Appleton, who sent them to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry where they were retuned. Three of the bells were cast in 1862, while a fourth was cast in 1653.

“The headstocks and the bearings had to be replaced, while the clappers were in a poor state,” said Mr Cullum. In addition to this, the bells’ worn wooden mechanism wheels were also replaced.

Mr Cullum said a fifth bell, which dates from 1595, was not touched because it is classified as a bell of significant historical interest.

Delighted that the bells have been returned to All Saints, Mr Cullum said: “We think the bells shouldn’t need major work on them for at least 80 to 100 years.

“They have been here for hundreds of years and they are part of the heritage of the village – indeed, church bells are part of the English landscape.”

Full of praise for Whites of Appleton, who are still completing work on the bells’ mechanism, Mr Cullum said: “We are certainly hoping to ring the bells by Remembrance Sunday, and if we can, we will try them out before that.”