TWO ancient bells which have been silent for more than two decades have been removed from a city centre church to be restored to their former glory.
The bells at St Helen’s Church in St Helen’s Square, in York, date back to 1621 and 1628. They are attributed to York bell foundry William Oldfield, but have been out of action since the early 1990s.
They were removed in a delicate operation by the Whitechapel foundry, whose experts will repair them and put them back in a new bell frame.
Then not only will they be rung for services, but church warden Anthony Hammersley said they would also be programmed to announce the time through quarterly chimes and striking the hours.
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