Fundraising Aims - What do we need to raise funds for?

There is no avoiding the need to rehang our bells with mainly new ringing fittings, this having been strongly recommended by a local bell hanger some 12 years ago and now being very much more urgent. This would include rehanging all six bells with new fittings of modern design and with all hanging radii, wheel diameters and clapper throws carefully calculated. This would bring about a transformation in the ease with which the bells could be rung. It is the case that most of the gear dates from 1887 and thus whilst it has certainly given very good value for money its design is dated and its life is finite.

In 1553 the Church Goods Commissioners reported "iiij belles in the towre their" but another was soon added, for the oldest bell, the present fourth, bears the inscription: Thomas Pennington new cast us five the XX day of July 1627. When the peal was increased to five bells, the four original bells were transported to Penningtons Bell Foundry in Paul Street Exeter for recasting. The sum of £1-15-4 was paid for "carriage of bells to Exer and backe againe". The earlier inscriptions on these bells have in some cases been recorded. The peal was increased to six in 1887, when Mr. A. O. Sillifant, of Combe, added a new treble. On this occasion the work, which also involved recasting the tenor bell, was carried out by Warner of Cripplegate, the firm who had cast Big Ben earlier in the century. The last major work on the bells was done in 1934. A plaque in the Tower states "The six bells were rehung with ball bearings and the second and fifth bells recast in 1934 by Mears & Stainbank".

Can we the public help?

Any donations will be received with gratitude. If you feel you can, please go to the Donate Section for ways to contribute.

If you use the Internet to Shop for goods online, then click on to the Shop Section where top Internet Shops will pass on a donation to our cause every time you make a purchase at names such as Amazon, Tesco, Ebay & 1000s more retailers.

There are no catches or hidden charges and The Colebrooke Bells Restoration Project will be really grateful for your donations. Thank you for your support.

Colebrooke Bells Re-dedication & Flower Festival Weekend 27th – 29th July

Posted onJuly 13, 2018

St Andrews Church, Colebrooke are having a re-dedication of the bells and a Flower Festival weekend running in the church from Friday 27th – Sunday 29th July. Friday 27th – 10.30am – 6.00pm Saturday 28th -10.30am – 6.00pm Sunday 29th -10.30am – 2.00pm Throughout the weekend there will be tower tours to see the newly Read More …

Sound clip of our refurbished & re-tuned bells at Colebrooke

Posted onMay 4, 2018

Here is a sound clip recorded of our bells at Colebrooke ringing call changes on Thursday 3rd May 2018.

26th & 27th March 2018 Colebrooke Bells Rehung

Posted onMarch 29, 2018

On 26th & 27th March, Graham Clifton from Whites Bellhangers came back to Colebrooke along with local support to raise the bells back into place with all the new fittings. At present, there are still some finishing touches to perform after Easter before the bells can be rung out again.

Whites of Appleton deliver Colebrooke Bells 23rd March 2018

Posted onMarch 28, 2018March 29, 2018

On the morning of 23rd March 2018, Graham Clifton from Whites Bellhangers brought back to Colebrooke their refurbished bells. Rehanging will commence on 26th March

Visit To Whites of Appleton 17th March 2018

Posted onMarch 24, 2018March 28, 2018

On Saturday 17th March 2018, a group of ringers and friends from Colebrooke travelled to Appleton by kind invitation of Whites of Appleton Bellhangers to see the finished work on the bells of Colebrooke. The bells now have new headstocks, bearings, clappers, wheels, stays, sliders & pulley wheels and will be transported back to Colebrooke Read More …

5th March 2018 Bell Frame Strengthened

Posted onMarch 7, 2018March 29, 2018

On 5th March 2018, Graham Clifton from Whites Bellhangers along with local support brought and installed two galvanised girders to strengthen the bell frame from the clock chamber.

Visit To Whites of Appleton to See Tuning of Colebrooke Bells

Posted onJanuary 10, 2018March 24, 2018

On Tuesday 9th January, Fred Oliver (Captain of Colebrooke Bellringers) Peter Budd (Restoration Project Photographer) & John Enderson (Bellringer) travelled to Appleton by kind invitation of Whites of Appleton Bellhangers to see the tuning of St Andrews Church Bells Colebrooke. Below is a slideshow of photographs taken of our day including the tuning of the Read More …

Visitors flocked to see church bells at Colebrooke

Posted onNovember 26, 2017March 28, 2018

Visitors flocked to see church bells at Colebrooke. OPEN days were held at St Andrew’s Church at Colebrooke on Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19 to give local people and visitors the rare opportunity to see the church’s six bells before they were transported away for restoration.

Work on restoring Colebrooke Church Bells to begin in November

Posted onOctober 11, 2017March 28, 2018

Work on restoring Colebrooke Church Bells to begin in November. The Parochial Church Council at St Andrew’s Church, Colebrooke, is celebrating the news that it has received a £35,000 funding boost from SUEZ Communities Trust (formerly SITA Trust) for the Colebrooke Bell Restoration project, and also that permission has been granted by the Exeter Diocese Read More …

Colebrooke Church Bells – Great News!

Posted onMay 2, 2017March 29, 2018

On 15th April we received the exciting news that Suez Communities trust had decided to award up to £35,000 for the refurbishment of our church bells. Funds raised or pledged from other sources total £14,962.32 Together these have enabled us to place an order with ”Whites of Appleton”. It is anticipated that the work will Read More …

Colebrooke Church Bells

Restoration Project

St. Andrews Church Colebrooke