Bell ringers appeal answered by Council funds
The bell ringers of St Peter’s Church in East Tytherley have been awarded £1000 from the Test Valley Council Councillor Community Grants fund to refurbish the lighting in their ringing room and belfry.
The building, known locally as ‘the church in the field’ due to its rural location, is a listed building and the main space and ringing room are the only community spaces in East Tytherley, which no longer has a village hall. The current lighting is very old with an emergency light that takes a few seconds to come on in the event of a power cut… not unknown in this remote location!
Work started earlier in Spring, when the Lockerley and East Tytherley ringers met with Mid-test Councillor Stewart MacDonald to check on progress. (pictured)
Jen Churchill, one of the bellringers group, said: “The lighting improvement in the tower will bring a far more pleasant experience for people using it for meetings and gatherings.
“The steeple keepers are also very pleased that they will soon be able to climb around the belfry with adequate lighting when servicing the bells. We would all like to express our thanks and gratitude to the council for their generosity.”
Cllr MacDonald said: “I am delighted to support this important initiative in East Tytherley. With no other community buildings in the parish, St Peter’s is at the heart of the East Tytherley community.
"This is yet another example of how the Test Valley Community Councillor grant scheme can make a real difference at a very local level. We have recently supported initiatives across Mid Test including West Tytherley village store, defibrillator installation at Middle Wallop, Computer Cafe at King’s Somborne, Wallop Village shop and the Christmas lights in Stockbridge, to name but a few.”
Councillor Community Grants are awarded across the Test Valley region and could benefit your local group, club or organisation. Find out more on our Community grants pages.