A 13th-century church in the idyllic village of Ashwell has had its bells restored.

Ringing in the Easter weekend, a local church has had its bells restored, and will be ringing in an upcoming Easter service.  

Having not rung since 1976, St Mary's Church's bells were checked and after some remedial repairs, they were declared safe to ring occasionally in 2021.

The bells were rung for both the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the King's coronation.

Five bells date from the eighteenth century with a sixth treble bell added during the Butterfield restoration in 1850. There has been no further work since and now major refurbishment was necessary.

Work started in mid-July 2023, after the church secured funding and permission from the diocese.

All six bells have been lowered and transported to Taylors Bell Foundry in Loughborough for refurbishment. 

They have been cleaned, re-tuned and mounted with metal headstocks, instead of the original wooden ones, with new bearings and fitments. In the church tower, the frames that hold the bells have been strengthened with additional supports and new wheels. A metal framework for the sixth bell has been constructed and fitted into the tower above the original wooden frame.

The end result is refurbished bells that look brand new, sound wonderful and will last for generations.

This Sunday, 31 March, from 10:45am the bells will be gloriously ringing for the Easter service at:

St Mary's Church

Ashwell

LE15 7LP

Find out more about St Mary's Church in our 'Oakham in History' feature.