The bells of St Giles Church in Goodrich were brought out into the light of day last week, after spending 81 years in the church belfry. Eileen Lyon and Celia Sykes, who are the Parochial Church Council Secretary and Treasurer, were delighted and relieved to see them safely out of the tower after working hard for four years to raise the money for their very necessary restoration. "This is the first time I have actually seen the bells," said Eileen Lyon. "After four years of form-filling for grants, it is wonderful to see that what we have been working towards is actually happening. It is great to be involved with what is a once in a lifetime experience." The sound of the church bells form a traditional background sound to significant moments in village life. For far too long the bells of St Giles of Goodrich have been silent – since 2004, in fact, when they were deemed unsafe. The bells were last refurbished in 1927. Some bells were restored and the treble bell was added. However, in the process, it would appear that more harm than good was done. The bell fittings now need replacing, and the bell frames also need a lot of work as they are heavily rusted. Specialist Bellfounders, John Taylor from Loughborough, came to see what needed to be done and estimated the cost involved. An extensive list was drawn up, and the nomenclature of bells is such that it is bewildering to the uninitiated, – from gudgeons to squinches to crownstaples. But, basically, the bells need to be removed from the tower, and each bell taken away and sorted out, before being retuned in accordance with the tenor. New bell frames will be made and then all will be re-hung with new fittings. Once this major refurbishment is done the bells should last for generations to come. There are six bells in the ring, hung in two levels due to the confines of the tower. The oldest bell, the tenor, dates from the late 15th century, and is actually listed by the Council for the Care of Churches as a bell worthy of preservation. The details are as follows: Tenor, dated from the late 15th century, from the Medieval foundry, Bristol, the Fifth bell from 1798, founded by John Rudhall, Gloucester, the Fourth, in 1672, by John Pennington, Monmouth, the Third, in 1746, by William Evans, Chepstow, the Second, in 1801, by John Rudhall, Gloucester, and the Treble, in 1927, by Mears & Stainbank, London. Once the refurbishment has taken place the bells will be rehung later in the year and a service of dedication will take place in the church. The PCC is grateful to all those who helped out over the last few days and gave time and support to help make it such a success. Donations are still welcome for the bell fund, please send to Celia Sykes of St Anton, Goodrich, HR9 6JA payable to St Giles Bell Fund.- St Giles Church Goodrich PCC. For further information please contact Eileen Lyons 01600 891312 or M Rowberry on 01600 890075.
