With bell-hangers catching-up with their backload of post-Covid projects, the Guild’s Bell Restoration Fund (LEBRF) was very active with grants during 2023.
The Fund’s Trustees approved grants of over £57,000 to 12 churches in the Salisbury Guild during 2023 – this made 2023 & 2022 the highest ever granting years for the Charity. 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.
One of the largest bells renovation projects, at St Mary’s, Calne was completed successfully – supported by LEBRF grants – and they held their Rededication Service on 10 September 2023.
In total, over £50,000 was paid out in LEBRF Grants to 8 churches throughout the Salisbury Guild during 2023, to keep their bells ringing for many years to come.
Without the Lucas Family Legacy, the LEBRF’s income in 2023 would have been in line with that of previous years (income has remained at between £10k-£15k per annum for several years), with online JustGiving donations boosting the traditional sources of income like Open Days, Peal Fees, raffles, Tower donations etc.
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
The bells of St Mary, Calne. (Photos: Andrew Woolley)
