HOLY TRINITY, GOSPORT
The church authorities will only countenance the rescue of these eight bells by removal of the louvres and a supporting pillar, followed by the lowering, externally, down the face of this tall campanile. An inspection confirmed that such action on a voluntary, amateur basis by Guild members would be most hazardous. At present no other suggestion appears acceptable to the authorities.
ST MARK, WOOTTON, I.O.W.
The intention to purchase the above octave is now hindered and the display of plans inside the church has resulted in several local objections to the awarding of planning permission for erection of a tower.
ST PETER, BROWN CANDOVER
Repairs to the tower, followed by much work by the Hough brothers, enabled these bells to be rung for two weddings and the carol service. Hugh Hill organised a Winchester District band to ring during the village fete on 28th July. Alas, a report by Whitechapel states that the fittings are deteriorating, the bells are too big for the bell chamber and the frame is unsafe and responsible for the structural damage to the tower. They estimate it will cost at least £13,000 to put the bells into good order.
ST ANDREW, HURSTBOURNE PRIORS
These heavy bells in their old-fashioned frame, braced by Philip Taylor, are rung once a month for Sunday service by a District band, following the decision of the Executive to purchase two second-hand clappers. An inspection by Whites of Appleton produced an estimate for supply of essential items to be fitted on a D.I.Y. basis, and this will total about £5000. Local recruits have been trained on Barton Stacey bells and the villagers have commenced fund raising.
Redundant church of ST AUGUSTINE, SOUTHAMPTON
This has been purchased and then renovated by The Pentecostal Church. During re-roofing the builder lowered the single bell, which was beyond the reach of our team during inspection in 1982. Although this denomination has no use for a bell, they are not anxious to pass it on to our friends at THE GOOD SHEPHERD, FOUR MARKS.
ST PAUL, BOURNEMOUTH
This church was demolished early in the year. The chime of eight bells was lowered by Whitechapel and the intention is to install it in the new church in the suburbs, but the incumbent is unwilling to consider hanging them for full-circle ringing.
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, WINCHESTER
The new incumbent has moved from Christchurch Priory and, encouraged by the Master, has announced an interest in the five, heavy, unringable bells.
ST MARY THE VIRGIN, MICHELDEVER
Guild and district grants, together with a massive fund-raising by the villagers, has achieved the total needed for repair of the tower. Scaffolding there indicated that the work is under way and ensures continued ringing for the enthusiastic local band.
ST BARNABAS, SWANMORE (see The Ringing World 3820)
During the 1983 A.G.M. a grant of £1400 was allocated towards the rehanging and retuning of the ring of six. Due to assistance by Mr M.K.Waldron and Mr P.Olding and with an unexpected donation, it has been possible for Whitechapel to recast the bells as a light six, tenor 6-3-20. The new bells were dedicated on 30th September.
STE MARGUERITE DE LA FORET, GUERNSEY (see The Ringing World 3846) The local parliament, or Douzaine, is responsible for the cost of all work on existing bells in the Channel Islands. Hence the cost of rehanging these four bells was already assured, but the local ringers were sure that a three-decker ring of six could fit into their narrow tower. The grant of £500 allocated at the 1984 A.G.M. enabled the fund raisers to place the order with Whitechapel. The dedication was held on 7th December.
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, NITON, I.O.W.
The 1984 A.G.M. allocated £750 towards the new treble, ordered from Whitechapel after considerable fund-raising in the I.O.W. Another grant from the Society for the Preservation of Church Bells enabled the augmentation to be effected during the autumn. The dedication was held on 19th January 1985.
ST PIERRE DU BOIS, GUERNSEY
The sum required to install the redundant ten bells from Feltham, £35,000, had begun to seem out of reach for the 1985 deadline. However, the grant of £1500 allocated by the 1984 A.G.M., together with the reduction in the estimate as a result of the D.I.Y. framework, has enabled the authorities to place the order with Whitechapel and the Master will represent the Guild at the dedication in April.
ST MARY, EVERSLEY
To mark the 250th anniversary of the restoration of this church and the construction of the tower, this parish has launched a fund-raising scheme to augment the two bells, first to a ring of four in a six-bell frame and then, later, to a full six. Estimates have been received from Whitechapel and the good folk of Yateley are currently teaching members of this congregation on St Peter’s bells.
D.C.JACKSON