Historic Church Rings The Changes With £1,000 JCB Donation

JCB is helping ring the changes in a Staffordshire Moorlands village with a £1,000 donation towards its church bell renovation project.

The digger giant pledged support to Christchurch at Upper Tean, near Cheadle, for the newly restored bell which had been silent for more than a decade. Village businesses and parishioners clubbed together to fund the £8,500 restoration of the bell which dates back to the church’s founding in 1842, while the JCB donation will meet essential future maintenance costs.

Since its relaunch last June, the bell has once more become a welcome part of village life. Team Vicar for Uttoxeter Area of Parishes, The Rev Joe Cant, said four parishioners share bell-ringing duties calling worshippers to Wednesday and Sunday services as well as pealing out to celebrate weddings.

Meanwhile for funerals an age-old tradition has been revived with the bell striking three times to mark the death of a male and three times two for a female parishioner, followed by one ring for each year of their life.

Rev Cant added: “The bell also holds a special place in the village’s history as its sister bell called employees to work each day at the historic Tean Mill which was a big employer. That bell went missing when the mill was renovated and turned into flats, so some villagers are particularly protective of this remaining one.

“We really appreciate the support from JCB and knowing we have the costs already covered for the next round of maintenance gives us great peace of mind – it would take a lot of coffee mornings for us to raise this kind of money.”

To find out more about Christchurch, Upper Tean services and events visit here.