Last Ringing on the Bells

The last ringing on the bells before they are removed for restoration work will take place on Sunday 11th October.

There will be a quarter peal attempt - 45 minutes of continuous ringing - at 2pm, followed by open ringing for ringers at 3pm for an hour. Downstairs at the bottom of the tower, there will be a display of historical information and plans for the restoration work, as well as refreshments.

The bells are due to undergo a £160,000 restoration and augmentation, carried out by Taylor's of Loughborough.

We are hugely grateful to local benefactors and donors, including local ringer Gordon Adams, who is one of the longest serving bellringers in the world. We have also been supported by the Suffolk Guild of Ringers through their bell restoration fund, and through a legacy bequest from Adrian Knights who has funding the two new bells.

One of the new bells will include an inscription honouring these two individuals, while the other is in commemoration of the coronation of King Charles III, and will bear his royal cypher.

We have also received donations from the Sharpe Trust, and the work has been supported by Haverhill Town Council.

As part of the work, a group from Haverhill will be able to be present in Loughborough when our two new bells are cast, and will be shown around the foundry where our six existing bells will be being restored and retuned alongside others from elsewhere in Suffolk.

This is an exciting time for ringing in Haverhill, and although the bells will be silent for six months while the work is carried out, we look forward to hearing them again when they return.