TWO church bells that haven’t rung out for more than 20 years are set to toll again after being conserved and re-installed in a new bell frame.
The bells at St Helen’s in St Helen’s Square, York, date back to 1621 and 1628 and are attributed to local bell foundry William Oldfield.
But they were rendered inoperable in the early 1990s, according to warden Anthony Hammersley.
“Bells of such antiquity are an important part of the history of our parish and the parochial church council has decided they should not be left dormant any longer,” he said.
A Whitechapel foundry will remove them later this month for conservation, and they will be returned in March.
“As well as ringing for services, they will be programmed to announce the time by means of quarterly chimes and striking the hours,” said Mr Hammersley.
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