Society concerns over removal of historic church bells
12:00pm Saturday 24th March 2012 in Where I Live By Simon Farr
Society concerns over removal of historic church bells
A SOCIETY has expressed its concerns over a church’s plan to remove its historic bells.
The bells of All Saint’s Parish Church in High Wycombe are due to be removed as part of a project to strengthen the tower and replace the bells, after deathwatch beetle damaged the ancient oak support beams.
But the High Wycombe Society is keen for at least one of the church monuments to be preserved and not melted down for replacements.
The society’s Chris Woodman said: “It should be quite a spectacle. “But we understand that some of the bells are of historic significance, carrying inscriptions with the names of important personalities in the town's history - the Marquis of Lansdown and the Earl of Wycombe.
“We shall be sorry if all these bells are lost and would like to see at least one of them preserved in an appropriate location.
“Bell Three, inscribed "The Gift of the Earl of Wycombe eldest son of the Marquis of Lansdown” would be very appropriate.”
Patricia Newton, who is heading up the Ring Appeal, said the removal will begin on Monday and the bells will all be down on the church floor by Wednesday before they are taken away on Thursday.
She said some of the bells will be recycled but confirmed talks were on going to try and save Bell Three from the scrap heap.
The church’s old clock was removed last month.
The church is still £50,000 short of fully funding the massive £380,000 project. Anyone wishing to make a donation should visit www.allsaintshighwycombe.org/appeal
