JCB HELPS TO RING IN THE CHANGES AT HISTORIC VILLAGE CHURCH
A STAFFORDSHIRE Moorlands village church is ringing in the changes with a major restoration project thanks to a donation from digger giant JCB.
St Peter’s Church, in High Street, Alton has begun a six-month improvement scheme to renovate all of its eight ornate bronze bells and tower infrastructure, after hitting its £100,000 fundraising target with a £10,000 donation from JCB.
The restoration is now under way and we are also adding two new smaller bells which will really enhance the sound with a lovely ring of ten and improve the experience for our bellringers and our neighbours. We are immensely grateful for the generous donation from JCB and we hope to have the bells ringing out for all the community to hear by Easter next year.
Alan Walters | Bell Tower Captain at St Peter's Church
Bell Tower Captain at St Peter’s, Alan Walters, added: “The eight bells at St Peter’s were installed in 1959 and are very highly regarded in terms of their sound. They have needed little attention over the last 60 years, but we now need to overhaul the fittings, repaint the bell frame and make improvements to ensure the bells serve the church and village well for the next 60 years.”