We now have an active team from Cottingham and Middleton ringing the bells at St Mary Magdalene Church. It’s fantastic to hear the bells being rung more often, and to ensure this can continue well into the future, we need to make sure that the five bells, frames, bearings, ropes etc are well maintained.
As part of this, we’ve raised more than £800 to make essential repairs to the frame for Bell No.3, which has rotted quite badly. This frame is supporting a bell weighing around 300kg (a third of a ton), and repairs are needed to maintain the integrity of the bearing mounting.
The work entails removing all rotten wood, treating the affected area, then strengthening and filling the cavity with resin. We are also hoping to obtain a grant towards the costs from the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers.
Most of the money for these repairs has been raised from the Dr Albury ghost story events held in the Church in December.
St Mary Magdalene, Bell No.3
New bell ropes
We have also just taken delivery of a new set of bell ropes, at a cost of £175 + VAT for each of the five bells. Most of the money for these has been donated by Mary Freestone, whose coffee morning in April 2023 raised a whopping £760. Thank you Mary!
