To see a review of the completed project click here
May 2019
We are now coming to the end of this project.
We have final report to write to Heritage Lottery Fund. To help us do this we have a questionnaire for you to fill in. It needs to be returned by Friday 10th May to DFR or Pandy Inn. Click here to download a copy.
Saturday 16th March
Dorstone Ringers First official ring
Ringing Day
Betty Lane cut the ribbon to start the day officially. Assisted by Ray Birchenough, Ernest Morgan and Rita Tether they set the mood for a wonderful day. The weather was good to us and Dorstone ringers performed their first official ring.
There were over 150 to join in the fun with ringers from all parts of Herefordshire who have helped train our new band. Grateful thanks to all who have supported throughout this project. We would like to know how far the bells reach so if you heard them today please let us know.
Friday 1st March 2019
Our newly trained team finally got to ring our new bells
See Video on right
Thank you every one for your support
There will be an open day so watch out for details
Thursday 28th February
Thursday. Finishing off jobs being completed hole for rope, runners for ropes and tightening of everything. Friday there may be full ringing of bells in the afternoon come after 1pm but we don’t know just when it will happen.
Wednesday 27th February
Work continues, all the bells are now in place with wheels and stays fitted and today all clappers fitted. Tomorrow will see the metal frame fastened to the concrete beam and holes drilled for bell ropes. Do come and have a look. You will need to climb a ladder.
Monday 25th February
Head stocks, clappers and wheels all arrive. Head stock lifted to tower and fitted onto bell. Bearings and wheel fitted and bell lifted to its ringing position. One down 5 to go
Friday 22nd February 2019
The frame in now mostly up in the tower and 4 of the bells in the place they will go. Not yet fixed.
That will be done next week
Wednesday 20th February 2019
The frame has been delivered by Mark Corrick, unloaded with the help of Sue Atkinson & Tig, and taken into Church. Two of the large beams have been hoisted into the Bell Tower.
Tuesday 19th February 2019
New Bell frame being made and new wheels
November 11th 2018
Armistice Day Service and Re-dedication of Bells
For photos of this event click here
OVER 200 people were packed into St Faith’s in Dorstone for the Borderlink Group Armistice Day Service, at which Bishop Richard officiated.
All the parishes had decorated part of a windowsill in honour of their war dead, and the church was adorned with handmade poppies.
The Memorial Board from the old Methodist Chapel was on display.
A great deal of research had been done to try and discover the lives of those who died, and also all those from the village who had served their country.
At the end of the service, Bishop Richard re-dedicated the six restored bells which were in the base of the tower for all to see.
The Tenor Bell has been designated as the Calling Bell, and the ancient bell from c. 1350 has been designated as the Armistice Bell, to remember all who died or were involved in wars through the ages.
The bells will be re-hung for full circle ringing as soon as possible, and, after they have been certified and checked, they will be available for Dorstone’s new team of 11 ringers who are busy practising in other towers locally.
September 18
The Bells Committee want to let everyone know of a slight change of plan.
Our refurbished bells along with the two additional bells from Yorkshire will be back in the church for 11th November. As you know, it was our intention to ring the bells for the first time at our Armistice Day Centenary Service on Sunday 11th November, commencing at 10.30a.m., when Bishop Richard (Hereford) has kindly agreed to re-dedicate them.
The change is that they will be in full view in the ‘kitchen area’ i.e. the base of the tower, rather than re-hung in the bell tower by that time. We feel this is a bonus, because it means that the Bishop will be able to see them when he blesses them and so will we!
The six bells will then be hung in the tower on the new frame, followed by a period for approvals and testing. The aim is to have them ringing by mid December in time for Christmas. We will let you know more as soon as dates are clear.
We always knew the timing would be very tight since nothing can be done in the tower until after 1st October due to bat licence restrictions. A nine-month Faculty delay to grant permission to tune the old bells has finally pushed the project plan out of our original timescale, but having waited this long to get the bells working again, a few more weeks seems bearable!
There will be tea, coffee and canapés after the service on 11th November –both in the church, and in the refurbished Ringing Chamber – and those who make it up the spiral staircase will be offered wine! Do join us for a very special occasion.
The Bells Restoration Committee
May 2018
Work in Bell chamber and Ringing chamber is now complete and we are waiting for the bells to return in October
April 2018
New louvres now fitted to Tower Roof
February 2018
New floor and ring beam completed
January 2018
Matt Pritchard will commence removing old bell chamber floor, creating a concrete ring beam and fixing new louvres to the roof.
2017 December
On Wednesday 6th December the bells were removed by Matthew Higby and taken to his workshop near Bath where they will be restored together with two bells from Richmond in Yorkshire to make a ring of six.
27 visitors came to watch.
Thank you to Sue Atkinson who came to the rescue with her fork lift to help get the largest bell into the van.
The bells were transported on Thursday 7th December to Bath by Mark Corrick Transport of Dorstone. Thank you Mark.
2017 November
On Wednesday 23rd Matt Pritchard the appointed builder removed part of bell frame to allow access to the trap door.
2017 November
Bells Project Launch Presentation in St Faith’s
Come and find out all about the time-plan.
Sunday 12th November 4p.m. (with tea and cake!!)
This is NOT for money raising! It’s just to keep you up-to-date on progress
** plus an Exhibition of information discovered so far about those whose names are on the WWI Memorial and the oak board from the Chapel.
2017 October
The Bat Reports were received and passed to the Council Planning Department.
Planning permission for the roof louvers was granted on 7th September
This enabled the Faculty Office in London (on behalf of the Diocese) to give their permission on 29th September.
The only outstanding paperwork is the actual Bat Licence, which allows work to proceed, which is due after 7th. November.
Five general builders have submitted tenders for the tower work, and now we will choose a bell hanger with advice from our architect.
We have 10 potential bell ringers, so at last we can make arrangements for them to try it out, and then be trained.
2017 May
We did it!! The Bells will ring again!
I’m sure most of you will have heard by now that the Heritage Lottery Fund has offered us the full £90,000 we asked for to help towards the restoration and re-hanging of our four ancient bells for full circle ringing. The Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust and the Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers have also generously supported our project. The Keltek Trust has given us two second hand bells to make a ring of six. So for the first time in over 65 years the bells will ring out again. We are aiming for our own new team to be ready to ring them for the Centenary of Armistice Day in November 2018.
Huge thanks for the dogged determination and patience of those who have worked so hard for this over four years, especially Cathy Gethin who has been involved from the outset. Now we can have confidence that the restoration of the main body of the church is likely to proceed, and St. Faith’s will become a warm, comfortable and inviting place at the very heart of our community.
Now the real work begins…………………….
2017 March
Additional information to Faculty Office and new Notice of advice issued by DAC
2017 – January
Faculty applied for.
Heritage Lottery Fund Grant applied for
The Garfield Weston Foundation grant applied for.
2016 – December
Diocesan Advisory Committee approved the Bells project and issued ‘Notification of Advice’. This enables us to apply for a Faculty (the equivalent of full Planning Permission from the church authorities.)
The Rowland Trust offers grant of £5000 towards Bells Project.
Dorstone Church 