During 2024 the Salisbury Guild’s Bell Restoration Fund (LEBRF) was once again very active with grants – a reassuring sign for the continuation of bell ringing in the Guild. Several of the towers that the LEBRF is supporting have been very successful in recruiting new ringers to keep the art alive within these renovated towers.
The Fund’s Trustees approved grants of over £20,500 to 11 churches in the Salisbury Guild during 2024. As with the previous year, this level of investment was only made possible by the generous Lucas Family Legacy which the LEBRF received in 2022, and which will continue to fund worthwhile bells projects in the Salisbury Guild into the future.
The largest project supported by the LEBRF in 2024 was at St Mary’s, Powerstock (Dorset) which was completed in November – everyone involved was so delighted that the bells were back in time for Christmas ringing. You can find out more about the work they had done & see some photos by clicking here.
In total, over £15,800 was paid out in LEBRF Grants to 7 churches throughout the Salisbury Guild during 2024, to keep their bells ringing for many years to come.
In 2024 the LEBRF’s income (£17k) remained at a similar level to that of previous years, with online JustGiving & MemberMojo donations boosting the traditional sources of income like Open Days, Peal Fees, raffles, Tower donations etc. Late in 2024 the LEBRF were humbled to hear that the Charity is to be a beneficiary in the Will of the late Ann Abrahams (formerly a ringer at St Martin’s, Salisbury), and we have been told to expect a significant legacy in 2025 which will be invested in supporting bells projects across the Guild.
These large legacies are a wonderful boost to the LEBRF’s granting capacity, but equally as important are the ongoing donations and support from members of our Guild – remember: our LEBRF is a fund by ringers, for ringers.
The LEBRF Trustees would like to thank the members of the Guild for their donations – you can donate online to the LEBRF at any time, and the money will be put to good use restoring church bells within the Guild: justgiving.com/llewellynedwardsbellrestoration
If you are planning a bells project, please do apply for an LEBRF grant to kick-start your fundraising: sdgr.org.uk/lebrf-apply-for-a-grant/.
Anne Wardell
LEBRF Administrator
