Ancient bell tolls for last time before new Coronation bell is installed

Ten years in the planning and eight months in the execution, the church and community project makes history.

A church bell that has called people to worship for almost nine centuries was lowered to the ground at 10.17 today.

A large crowd had gathered from just before 10am to witness the historic event and the children from Heacham Infant and Junior schools whooped with delight as the oldest bell in Norfolk appeared on the scaffolding and was attached to the hoist.

Before the 85kg bell was lowered to the ground it was rung three times by one of the team from Matthew Higby & Company, the specialist bell hangers from Somerset.

Lay Minister Penny Sutton said that this was the first time the bell had been heard for some forty years. The bell was taken into the church will be on permanent display. Its replacement, the new Heacham Coronation Bell (commemorating the Coronation of King Charles III), was delivered soon after the bell had been lowered.

The new Coronation bell is unloaded

The old and the new

The two bells will be on display together in the church until Wednesday morning.

The Norfolk Trefoils supplied refreshments for everyone. Mary Harpley said: “We come every month to do the coffee mornings and when we heard about the new bell we wanted to be involved.”

Mary Harpley and Jill Barrett

Tomorrow from 10am the new Coronation Bell, cast in bronze using traditional techniques in Italy at the Allanconi Foundry in Bolzone (about 50k south-east of Milan), will be lifted up the tower and placed in the specially restored cupola which is a replica of the old one with improvements in the oak and stainless steel structure. Everyone is welcome to attend Heacham Church to see the Coronation Bell lifted into place.

 Rev'd Veronica Wilson sounding the bells, photo credit C L Ellis

The Vicar of Heacham, Revd. Veronica Wilson, said: “They say it takes a village to raise a child – it takes a community to complete a project like this; so many people have been involved and the church and community has come together to achieve something historic and very special.”

A full story and more photos will be in the October issue of Town and Around that will be in shops from 24^th September.