FOR the first time in 70 years Barnard Castle Town Council is being asked to help pay for repairs to a church clock.
Former town clerk J Ingram Dawson stipulated in his will that the maintenance of the prominent timepiece should be the responsibility of the local authority.
The clock on the spire of the Methodist Church, in lower Galgate, has been a landmark feature since it was installed in 1952 as the result of a bequest by Mr Ingram Dawson.
He left £500 in his will to purchase “an illuminated public clock” which he said should be placed on the spire of the church, with the upkeep by the local authority.
Since the clock was installed, the church has funded any repairs that have been needed with members of the congregation using a ladder inside the spire to change the time.
However, an insurance inspector has deemed the access unsafe and the church council is appealing to town councillors to help fund the cost of installing a new safety ladder to enable other maintenance work and repairs to be carried out.
Members of the town council’s resources committee were due to discuss the request by the Methodist Church Council secretary, Margaret Wills, for help paying the estimated £5,349 cost of installing the safety ladder, as the Mercury went to print on Monday.
In a letter to the town council, she said: “The clock has stopped at 5.15pm because the clock’s safety ratchet requires maintenance.
“Our church, with the clock, is a dominant feature of Barnard Castle when approaching the town down Galgate and locals and visitors alike use the clock for checking the time and when it is not working, it is sorely missed.” Mrs Wills added:
“We would be very grateful for your favourable consideration, bearing in mind that up until now our church has not sought financial help to maintain the clock.”
