Structural Engineer has visited this morning

The structural engineer, Adrian Dempster,  has been to St Peter's this morning to assess the tower for its ability to hold the two extra bells. He carried out a visual survey of the exterior of the tower, taking photographs. Then he carried out a visual inspection of the interior of the tower especially looking for evidence of previous moment of the structure.


 If you were in the village you would have heard the bells being rung for a few minutes. While they were being rung the engineer used an instrument to measure the amount of movement of the tower at the level at which the bells are situated. The engineer verbally stated that there was not significant movement but we await official confirmation of that in his written report, which he will send to us in the new year. This report will then be submitted with the faculty application in order to get permission to continue with the scheme.

Donation Received from Ringing Group

I was presented yesterday with a cheque for £100 from a group of ringers, who are mainly retired and meet once a month to ring in different churches in the area and socialise. Each time they meet everyone gives a donation which enables them to give a donation to the churches they ring at. Any surplus builds up until they can give to a suitable bell appeal, such as our appeal for Drayton bells.


We look forward in the near  future to welcoming the group to ring on the completed ring of six bells at Drayton.

Grant Application made to Bell Ringing Ruling Body

The Central Council of Bell Ringers is the ruling body of bell ringing. Every so often people leave it bequests in their wills. This is administered by one of the Council's committees, who ask for applications from churches undertaking work on their bells. An application has been submitted from our bell project. Previous successful applicants have received sums of between £500 and £1,000. We don't expect to hear if we have been successful in our application until sometime early in 2015.

Donation Received from Whittington Bellringers

The ringers at St Giles Church, Whittington have kindly donated £125 to the bell appeal. A number of years ago Whittington were raising money to add two new bells to their ring and Christ Church Blakenall Heath sent them £125 to mark the 125th anniversary of the forming of the bell ringing society that covers our area. The Whittington ringers have now decided to pass this sum on to us.


Hopefully in the future, way after our appeal is completed and our new bells ringing, we can do the same kind act to another church.

Date Fixed for Structural Inspection

Adrian Dempster, a structural engineer, will inspect the tower at St Peter's Drayton Bassett on the morning of Thursday,18th December. This inspection has been required by the Diocesan Advisory Committee to ascertain if the tower is strong enough to stand the stress of two more bells.  If the report is positive the faculty application will be made to obtain permission to carry out the project.

Appeal Launch in New Year

It has been decided that the official launch of the bell appeal will now be in the New Year.  The appeal leaflet is now ready for printing in the next few weeks.


Some people have already come forward to help with the distribution of the leaflet to all houses and businesses in the parish. Anyone else who would be willing to help is invited to contact me.