Appeal4Apeal - St Mary's North Creake, Norfolk, England

The Challenge

Time has taken its toll on the bells of St Mary’s. We have challenges to overcome for sure, but it’s not all doom and gloom.

The good news

The 15th century tower shows no sign of distress. The 1898 bell frame, in which our 6 bells sit at the top of the tower, is in good structural condition. It’s described by the Church of England Council for the Care of Churches as “excellent in every particular”.

The not so good news – a three part challenge

• Our first challenge is the poor state of the 14th century timber platform on which the frame sits. The foundation beams have become spliced, and are affected by decay. This causes the platform to flex, and the frame to move. That not only makes the bells increasingly difficult to ring, but also brings forward the date in the not too distant future when ringing becomes impossible.



• Our second challenge is our six bells. These are in a very poor state of repair. One bell has to be replaced and another re-cast. The others need re-tuning. All have to be taken down; and eventually re-hung.



• Our third challenge is to solve the health & safety dangers of the current small and inappropriate ringing gallery.

To maintain the long tradition of change bell ringing at St Mary’s, we have to embark on a major programme of investment, to restore and renovate the bells of St Mary’s.