Rochester Row Bell Restoration Project – Progress Report

During the cold winter months, fund-raising has continued steadily, with both the Trustees and Fund-Raising Committees meeting regularly to monitor progress and discuss various possible events and projects. For example, many of you will have sentor received Christmas cards designed by one of our ringers, and the Church itself was decorated with bells and stars during Christmas itself.

Other work has included applying to a long list of charitable organisations and local businesses, with the aim of soliciting donations of any size. While this has so far failed to persuade a philanthropic donor to write us a blank cheque, a number of smaller pledges have enabled us to make steady progress on this front. To give just one recent example, we were especially pleased to receive confirmation that the Bell Restoration Fund of the Central Council of Church Bellringers has offered us a grant This offer has been accepted with gratitude.

On the technical and contractual fronts, equally encouraging progress has been made. Following consultations with a number of potential partners, we have selected a preferred contractor; John Taylor and Co. of Loughborough (one of the two remainingbell-founders in the UK). Also, the PCC has begun the process of applying to the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) for a Faculty for all the proposed works. These will include the major work on the bells and sound control, as well as the equally important training and educational aids and ringing room refurbishment.

But there is still much work to be done, and it's important that we don't take the foot off the pedal at this stage. All donations are still gratefully received, and we hope to be able to announce more events in the near future. Watch this space!

March 2015