So we thought: better to make a good job of it today instead of leaving the village to face another large bill tomorrow.

Darren Woodyer, tower captain, spent long hours seeking out redundant bells from other churches – but to no avail.  So the plan now is to melt down some or all of the bells, improve the alloy (so that they do not wear so quickly in future) and re-cast them.  The church gets new bells, perfectly tuned, made to present-day standards.  And the old bells live on, just in new form, as their metal is recycled.

The new bells will be lighter: easier to ring for the youngsters who are learning to be the ringers of the future, and for the present ringers, some of whom are no longer youngsters.  They will sound the same notes as before, but sweeter.  And they should still be ringing as sweetly in 200 years’ time, when that acorn has finally grown into an historic tree.

To achieve this we need £150,000.  Can you help?  Would you or your family like to sponsor a whole bell – and have your name cast permanently into the metal as a memorial for centuries to come?