The six bells of St Edward’s church, Goathurst were re-dedicated during an outdoor service celebrating their return and restoration. The six bells were removed in 2019 following the discovery that one of them was badly damaged and the others needed work to prevent them undergoing a similar fate. The service was led by Simon Hill, Archdeacon of Taunton and the afternoon commenced with ringing by over a dozen invited local ringers before the service and concluded with a wonderful quarter peal rung by six visiting experts in honour of the restoration.One villager remarked, ‘Church bells have a magic about them, they bring good tidings and are uplifting!’
St Edward’s has six bells, four of which were cast by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester and originally hung in 1705. Another was added in 1783 and the final one in 1937 when all of the bells were re-hung and overhauled. Very little work had been done to them since then.In January 2019, a regular inspection discovered a serious crack in the 5th bell, one of the initial 18th century bells, rendering the bells dangerous and silencing them. The crack is thought to have been caused by corrosion and subsequent expansion of its cast in crown staple roots. For repair, the bell needed to be removed from the tower.
It was noted that four of the other bells also retained the roots of their cast in crown staples and, as these could also be at risk in the future, it would make sense to remove them at the same time, whilst the lifting gear was in place, allowing them to be worked on in a workshop environment. Other work to overhaul the clapper assemblies, main bearings and gudgeons, pulleys and other fittings was also necessary as it was over 80 years since the last major overhaul.
A Bells’ Appeal was launched in September 2019 to raise the £19K estimated cost and fund raising commenced with a handbell concert and leaflet drop to every home in the village. The pandemic thwarted planned events in 2020, but during the lockdowns and since, grants were sought resulting in over £12K. Further funds were raised by a sponsored bike ride and the work commenced in February 2021.
Before work could begin it was necessary to remove decades of accumulated dust and bird debris from the belfry and clock chamber beneath it, to ensure a safe working environment and to prevent it cascading into the church once the trapdoors were opened. Additionally, the turret clock had to be carefully packaged to protect it from dust and damage.
The 5th bell was transported to Soundweld (Newmarket) for rewelding, whereupon the crack was found to be more serious requiring the Canons to be removed, requiring a further faculty and incurring extra cost.The restoration was finally completed and the bells rang out again in September 2021.