HERBS and spices from all over the world were shipped in for an ancient ritual in Preston Parish Church on Saturday (November 8).

The hallowing of the bells had all the qualities of a pagan festival with men in black robes, huge artefacts lined down the aisle and smoking herbs which added an exotic perfume to the proceedings. There was even a bird flying round the ancient chamber.

But in fact it was a traditional Christian ceremony, performed by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, who came to St John's to anoint, christen and bless the 10 bells before they are hung in the church's imposing tower.

A strange concoction was used for the blessing, including Myrrh and Gum Olibanum sent from the Holy Land; spices from the Windward Islands; and leaves from a Yew Tree in the Stoneygate churchyard which, at 2,500 years old, is the most ancient tree in Europe.

The project to restore the bells was made possible by 10 years of dedicated fund-raising and a grant of £17,000 from the Millennium Commission.

Eight of the bells have come from a redundant church in Bolton and two new ones were cast at Whitechapel Foundry in London.

They were anointed by the Bishop and given a saint's name. The Great Tenor Bell was dedicated to St John Baptist, the town's patron saint, and is in succession to the Great Bell that hung over Preston since the Battle of Waterloo.

Number five was named St Teresa Avila in memory of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Executive of Parish Prospect Tracey-Jane Harding explained that the bells are regarded as a living part of the church and are therefore baptised and named in the way that human members join the church.

Canon Robert Ladds said: "I am grateful for all the cooperation that has enabled this project to be completed and we are delighted to welcome the Bishop to mark the first element of Parish Prospect Preston to have been successfully completed."

Tower captain Cyril Crossthwaite and his team of bell ringers supported the scheme along with Richard Palmer of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers.

The third bell was named St Margaret of Scotland in honour of Margaret Crossthwaite and friends of the Tower.

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