St James’ the Great church, Melsonby, dating from 1115, is our Anglican parish church. It is united with two local churches to form the Stanwick Group of Churches. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The church tower hosts four bells, the oldest of these was cast in 1370 and has ‘Johanes had me made’ engraved into the metal, the next in 1718 and the latest two in 1875.
What is the Melsonby Bell Project?
The church bells are held on worn out and dated fittings, they are very difficult to ring for beginners and having four bells limits what can be rung by experienced ringers. This makes it difficult to teach and retain ringers and to attract existing ringers. The Keltek Trust, a charity that rescues bells from closed churches, has offered us a set of six bells from a former church near Leeds.
It is proposed to install these six bells and two newly cast bells on modern fittings. The 1370 and 1718 bells will remain in the church. A new frame will allow easier access for visitors to view the bells and it is envisaged that “open days” to visit the tower will become a regular event.
Why is it important to the wider local community?
Melsonby has no village hall and at a time when the Church of England is closing church buildings, we hope to secure the future of St James’ by making as much use of the church as possible, including a more numerous and active bell ringing group. The church holds concerts and events, has a weekly café and Post Office; hosts a book and jigsaw lending library and has a recycling centre. The meeting room is hired out for office use and meetings and a village choir hires the church on a weekly basis. The investment in new bells is known to attract new ringers and an active bell ringing group will support the continuity of the church as a community asset and a place of worship well into the future.
Bells typically last for hundreds of years and there is therefore a rare opportunity to have an engraving on the new bells, creating a legacy for a family, business or association for many centuries to come.
What is needed to complete the project?
The raising of circa £150,000 by December 2024.
How will it be achieved?
The funds will be raised through a combination of:
- Donations in return for an engraving on the bells creating a lasting legacy, and
- Various other fundraising activities over the coming year.
How can you help?
You can support the project in three ways:
- Do you know a benefactor who may wish to contribute who you can introduce us to?
- Do you have contacts / friends who may be able to help in some fashion to support the project?
- Would you be able to spare some time to help in the raising of the funds or offer marketing / publicity support?
How can you learn more?
Come to one of our two open events at St James’ Church on
Tuesday 21st November 2023 from 7-00pm to 8-00pm or
Saturday 25th November 2023 from 2-00pm to 3-00pm or
Contact the Melsonby Bell Project Team on MelsonbyBells@gmail.com
Melsonby Community 