Bells of North Creake ring for New Year

The Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick, assisted by the rector, Fr Clive Wylie, consecrates the bells on the floor of the church, before they are hung in the renovated church tower. Picture: Peter Bird (Image: Archant)

Parishioners raised £120,000 to refurbish the bells and the floor of their tower at St Mary's Church, at North Creake.

The eight-strong peal will be inaugurated at a special service next week, where they will be blessed by the Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick, the Bishop of Lynn.

John Billett, chair of the Appeal 4 apeal project, which raised the money to carry out the work, said the bells would be rung at midnight to ring in the New Year.

'It's been a labour of love, this is a time for rejoicing,' he said. 'We raised £120,000 to do it, all through voluntary contributions, events, raffles, legacies, standing orders - we've had terrific support from the local community.

'The project has been pretty major. The bells sit in a frame, which was OK, but the frame sits on a floor which was decaying. We had to take the whole thing down and erect a new steel system.'

As well as being re-cast at a specialist foundry, two extra bells have also been added to the 14th Century church's original six.

'We've got a full octave now, which means we can play anything,' added Mr Billett.

'They've had to be fine-tuned and have new ropes, it's been quite an involved operation.

'We will ring in the New Year but the official launch and blessing by the Bishop is at 3pm on Sunday, January 10.'