Taunton church bells appeal launched (From Somerset County Gazette)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting COUNTY GAZETTE to 80360 or email us
Taunton church bells appeal launched
9:10am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Taunton
With the Ockment Valley Handbell Ringers are project manager Jeff Knipe, St Mary’s vicar the Rev Rod Corke, Taunton Deane Mayor and Mayoress Cllr Terry and Ann Hall and Lady Gass, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset
THE £300,000 appeal to replace the ageing bells of St Mary Magdalene Church, in Taunton, has been launched.
The vicar, the Rev Rod Corke, told hundreds of people at the event that the 15 bells, which will be taken down and melted down to founder new ones, belonged to the people of Taunton.
The evening featured entertainment from the Ockment Valley Handbell Ringers and a talk from restoration project manager Jeff Knipe, who said it was vital that the new bells could be easily rung by young people so as to encourage a new generation of ringers.
Choirs and musicians from St Mary’s and Queen’s College also performed, while Taunton Deane Mayor Cllr Terry Hall urged people to give generously to the appeal.
