The Battle of Buckden Bells
The story of a fight against time, bureaucracy, with a need for patience, perseverance, fundraising, hardwork, and finally success, all his whilst not forgetting that we are a Christian community and ensuring that no-one was upset about the decisions made.
St Mary's, Buckden, Cambridgeshire is in the Huntingdon District of the Diocese of Ely. The ring was a 15cwt anticlockwise five, which were hard to ring and getting harder. The increasing effort needed made it obvious that a re-hang in a new frame was necessary. It was first suggested in 1980 that work was needed on the wooden frame and this was put to the PCC of the time. It was noted but no work was done. The last major work had been done in 1930 by Whites of Appleton, when the bells were taken by steam lorry to Oxfordshire, and work done to strengthen the frame with metal ties and plates.
In 1994 the PCC were thinking about a millennium project and the Tower Captain and PCC member suggested that the bells needed rehanging. The church also felt it needed a meeting room, kitchen and toilet. It was finally decided to run the two projects together.
We knew the date of the bells, treble, being the oldest at 1510, had a preservation order on it, however the date of the frame was in dispute. The first thoughts were that it pre-dated the Edwardian survey of 1552, and so would have to stay in use. A second opinion was sought and the old churchwardens records proved to be very thorough and showed it to be dated 1637.
The discussions went to and fro, so we involved the architect. He was not happy about the tower movement and its effect on the foundations. So again we asked for further advice from a person recommended to us to undertake a full tower survey. He was very thorough, asking to measure the tower movement, when the bells were ringing, he took rubbings of the inscriptions and even estimated the number of pigeons on the roof!
The outcome was as we had hoped, he recommended a new frame lower down the tower to minimize the tower movement, leaving the old frame in situ, along with a few other things he deemed necessary but achievable.
In the meantime the Ely Diocesan Association was looking for a centenary project. So after seeking the PCC's backing it was put forward that a centenary bell be purchased to augment Buckden to a six. We were asked to put forward a short presentation, along with others at the AGM so the meeting could see our proposal and vote. Our re-hang in a new frame lower in the tower with the suggestion that the Ely DA purchase a new treble to augment to 6 won on the day after vigorous debate.
Back in the parish we asked five bell hangers to come and give us quotes for the work. This brought about the next stage in discussions. We had to look at what was offered for the money and then decide what was best for us. There were no real surprises but there were long debates on the merits of steel frames versus cast iron. Whites of Appleton were chosen as the closest to meeting our criteria and the deposit was hastily paid to avoid paying VAT (the regulations were about to change).
Fundraising was launched at Easter 1995, the PCC having decided to have a gift day and to invite people to covenant a monthly amount for five years. This raised a good amount of the funds. We as a PCC applied to the lottery heritage fund for half the money towards the rehang. Never let any one tell you that getting lottery money is easy. Jumping through many hoops for around two years saw the money finally promised.
Whites meanwhile were very helpful and patient especially as the re-hanging had a deadline to match the association centenary. Obviously work could not be started until English Heritage, the DAC and the architect had all agreed with each other and a faculty obtained. Thankfully this was done just in time, though later than we had hoped.
The five bells outside St Mary's awaiting a lorry to Whitechapel
Then were were in the hands of Whites to see if we could be fitted into Whitechapel's busy schedule having missed our planned slot. Luckily we were.
It was about this time I (the Tower Captain and member of the PCC) had to move away (my husband had a new job). Fortunately having worked closely with others involved it just carried on without any more management problems 'than those usually associated with volunteers, all busy people, trying to fit the demands of the project into their lives.
This is when the talking stopped and the action started.
The clock which is very historic was temporarily disconnected to allow the bells out. The tower room ceiling was removed to be replaced with a new stronger one which was also the new ringing chamber floor. An old doorway was reopened to allow access to the ringing chamber. A guider put in as the new draught was enormous compared to the old one. The old bell frame had to he cleaned and treated to preserve it. Hatches had to be re-opened or made to allow the bells out. A sound channel was created by re-designing the clock room (taking care not to disrupt the clock). Sound control was also installed.
Whilst all this was going on Whites arrived to remove the bells and transport them to Whitechapel to be tuned to the old treble. We then had invitations for three people to see the new bell cast. This was attended by the President of the Association, the new Tower Captain and my fanatical ringing son who travelled from university in Hull for the day. The new bell with its inscription of "TO THE GLORY OF GOD" on one side and on the other "CENTENARY BELL 1897-1997" ana around the top "THE ELY DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL-RINGERS" was cast.
The six bells in their new frame, set up for inspection at Appleton
Then in April we were all invited to Appleton to see the new bell with the old 5 in the new frame with all new fittings. Whites set it all UP in the workshop to test that the frame fitted, ring the bells and ensure that the new clappers wrung correctly. SO with a warm welcome, a cup Of coffee and biscuits we were able to see and hear the new treble in the frame. 1 don't suppose it will ever be so clean again. An amazing Sight . ' particularly as and one I am glad I did not miss, we also had a chance to ring the mini-ring set up in the workshop.
The bells were then transported back home along with their new frame. I gather all went well as did the try out. One comment was "they went like a dream".
The rededication service was on Sunday the 8th June. A lovely typical English summers day with a rousing service in a packed church. A sermon by ringing Bishop (The Right Reverend John Dennis), a marquee in the churchyard for tea afterwards, and lots of ringing friends getting together with those involved in the projrct both in the parish and elsewhere to ring or listen to the bells. The general feeling was that they sounded as if they were cast at the same time and they certainly went well. The tenor ringer qill be able to enjoy peals in the future.
Almost four years from the first PCC meeting a fine ring of bells rang out over the village as we hope they will for many generations to come. So if you were involved in any way, THANK YOU.
Mrs Anne M Greenley (Ex-Tower Captain of Buckden) Ringing World Issue 4498.0697
ELY DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION
	Peal No. 6229	RW: 4500.0753
	BUCKDEN, Cambridgeshire. St Mary
	Saturday 28 June 1997 2h52 (13)
	5040 Surprise Minor
	(7m: One extent each London, York, Bourne, Beverley, Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge)
	1.  Timothy W Griffiths	4.  Phillip S George
	2.  Adam S Greenley	5.  Ian M Holland
	3.  Catherina E Griffiths	6.  George E Bonham
	Conducted by George E Bonham
	First peal on the augmented and restored bells, the new treble being the Ely DA Centenary Bell. A compliment to Miles Falla of Buckden and Stephen Hampton of St Neots, both ordained Priest in Ely Cathedral during the peal.
Additional information:	Bells of St Mary, Buckden
	Rehang and augmentation of the bells of Buckden
	Centenary Celebrations 1897-1997
	1997 Quarter Peals
	St Mary's - the Parish Church of Buckden