A CHURCH has celebrated the rehanging of its bells.

A service of rededication took place on Sunday at St Peter’s Church, Stoke Fleming, for the newly restored bells.

It was conducted by tbe Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Rev Nick McKinnel, along with the village’s newly appointed priest in charge, the Rev Alison Shaw.

In a symbolic ceremony, Alan Hughes, director of Whitechapel Bell Foundry, presented a bell rope to Bishop Nick who dedicated the bells and passed the rope to the Rev Alison, who in turn handed it to John Dietz, the tower captain and churchwarden.

In his address, Bishop Nick said: ‘I am so honoured to be part of this historic occasion, celebrating an immense achievement and congratulating all the people who have contributed to it.

‘The art of church bell-ringing is a quintessentially English skill which dates back to the 17th century. The congregation is often oblivious to the dedication and maintenance involved, and the degree of team work, time and skill needed to produce the most powerful and far-reaching music known to man – to call people to worship.’

The rededication follows a major project to renovate the church tower and replace the corroded bell frame. The six bells, dating from 1777, were taken to Whitechapel Bell Foundry for tuning and overhaul, and were augmented by two additional bells, generously donated by Johnson Matthey Plc whose founder, Percival Norton Johnson, lived in Stoke Fleming and is buried in the church. Johnson Matthey celebrates its bicentenary in 2017.

Other funding was received by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Landfill Communities Fund, the Devon Bell Restoration Fund, as well as generous donations from other charitable trusts and local residents.

At the same time the tower clock, originally installed in 1878, was overhauled, repainted, and converted to electric winding, by Cumbria Clock Co. This work was paid for by the Friends of St Peter’s, Stoke Fleming. Elliott Construction of Stoke Fleming carried out other building work, which included replacement of severely corroded roof girders.

During the service, John Dietz acknowledged and thanked all the people involved in the project, from the designers and contractors who drew up and carried out the plans, to the PCC and tower sub-committee who managed the implementation, and the bell ringers who helped with the work.

He said: ‘We are, of course, immensely grateful to all the generous donors who have provided the financial support to make this project possible.’

More information about the renovation project and bell ringing in Stoke Fleming can be found on the website http://www.stokeflemingtower.org.