Sound of pealing bells set to return to Blackburn after four-year struggle

The eight bells at St Jude’s Church, which had been in place since 1932, were removed two years ago after becoming rusted and weather-worn.

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The small congregation were told that four of the bells could be restored while the others were too damaged to be repaired and that new ones would have to be cast.

The restored bells and four new additions have been delivered to the Accrington Road church and are set to be hauled into place in the coming days.

The remaining four of the original eight bells which could not be restored have been given to the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu.

The bells were shipped over to join three from Essex and have been housed in the museum’s bell tower which has recently been refurbished.

Father Martin Daniels, who has been at the church for five years, started the project four years ago and has secured a range of donations and grants from various sources including from the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers which provided 17 per cent of the overall cost.

Made out of 74 per cent copper and 23 per cent tin, the bells were delivered to the church yesterday ahead of the church’s centenary next month.

Fr Daniels said: “Something needed to be done because they were in such bad condition they would have fallen down.

“I’m really pleased that we have got to this stage and that the four original bells are back where they belong.

“The new bells were cast in Loughborough and some of the congregation went down there to see the bells being worked on.

“So far we have raised £94,000 so we are not quite there yet and more donations are needed to totally finish this project.

“We have had to take an interest-free loan to make sure that the bells were brought back before the centenary.

“The consecration date will be Monday, April 6, which will be church’s 100th birthday.”