CAMPANOLOGISTS in Cotherstone are a step closer to hitting their target of raising £8,500 to repair bells at the village church thanks to a grant from county councillors.
Currently only four of the six bells are in action at St Cuthbert’s Church and the band of ringers, Cotherstone Bells, launched a fundraising campaign in September 2022 with the aim of raising £8,000 to pay for repairs and new equipment.
Bell ringer Davina Tomlinson said: “At the moment we can only ring four of the six bells because two are out of action.
“There hadn’t been a bell ringing band in Cotherstone for 25 years and because they haven’t been used, much like everything, they haven’t been maintained.”
Since launching their campaign, the group, which has nine members, has raised £2,000 through donations, selling homemade preserves and chutneys and organising musical entertainment evenings.
During the village’s fun weekend last June they hosted an open afternoon giving guided tours of the bell tower, something they hope to repeat this year.
The appeal was given a big boost when the group received £4,000 from county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson.
The money will go towards repairing the bells, as well as the purchase of new ropes and muffles for the clappers, that dampen a bell’s ring and which are used at funerals and to signify the death of a monarch.
Mrs Tomlinson added: “We hope once the restoration is done other bell ringing bands from around the country will come and ring here.
“Once we have all six bells in action, we hope a lot more people will be interested in ringing, although we are limited in space due to the clock box in the ringing chamber.”
The group, which practises every Tuesday evening at St Cuthbert’s Church between 6pm and 7.30pm, are now just £2,500 short of their target.
Anyone interested in learning with Cotherstone Bells, should contact Mrs Tomlinson on 07894 246204.
