Date for your diary! On Friday 5 September we will welcome George Pipe of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers and Lay Canon Emeritus at St Edmundsbury Cathedral to talk about 'Suffolk Churches - Saxon to Victorian'. The talk will start at 7.30 pm in Bardwell Church. Parking is available on the village green and refreshments will be served afterwards when there will be a chance to talk to George about many of the fascinating stories he will describe in his talk. Not only an eminent bell ringer, respected throughout the world for his contribution to ringing but a respected author on the huge variety of the lovely churches in our historic county.

There is no charge for this event which is open to everyone but donations will be welcomed to the Bardwell Bell Fund, which has been set up to restore the bells of Bardwell to regular full-circle ringing. Donations to the Fund may be made by cheque payable to 'Bardwell PCC (Bell Fund)' and directed to the Treasurer of the PCC  (use contact form).

NEWS!! NEWS!!

Saturday 6 September 

Huge thanks to everyone who attended this very successful event. The church was full and we raised the sum of £443 which is a fantastic boost to our funds. Thank you for your support! 

The church in Bardwell village has an unusual ring of six bells, most dating from the eighteenth century. Sadly they have not been rung regularly for many years because their present frame and fittings have come to the end of their life and are worn out. The ring is unusual because the rope circle falls 1,5,6,2,3,4 - probably due to the installation of two bells in the central pit of the frame. Recent surveys by bellhangers have indicated that the bells (with the possible exception of one) can all be sufficiently re-tuned and if rehung in a new frame with new fittings, would provide a musical and delightful ring, worthy of such a beautiful and large church as Bardwell, and with a new lease of life for many years to come.

The inscriptions on the bells are as follows;

The bells have been largely silent in Bardwell village for decades, with only the occasional ringing for very short periods in the past few years. It was wonderful to ring, albeit briefly, for the 90th birthday celebrations of Mrs Ruffles several years ago, especially as one of the bells is dedicated to a member of the Ruffles family. Likewise it was a great honour to ring for the funeral of this lady in January 2007.

The Bardwell village church bells restoration project aims to restore regular ringing of the bells. Click the link to find  out how you can support this project!