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Progress Reports and Photos
Pre-restoration
Photos
Restoration Photos
Information
Leaflet
Quiz
Bell Project
Report 17 March 2010
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THE
BRAYFORD BELLS RESTORATION PROJECT
High
Bray Church sits on a hill overlooking the village of Brayford in North
Devon. It has for more than 800 years been a vital part of our community,
being the focus of christenings, marriages and funerals, of village
events, and of familiar religious services. The church is also used
regularly for meetings, by the Brayford Primary School, the Brayford
Singing Group, and other village organizations.
There are six bells hanging in the church at High Bray and they have been
a continuing part of our history. Two bells were cast and placed in the
church in the 15th century - one in 1499 and one in 1450; one
was cast in 1807, and three were cast in the 1890s when the current bell
frame was constructed and put in place. The sound of bells has always been
a presence in the village, for worshipers and non-churchgoers alike, but
some 30 years ago the deterioration of the base at the west end of the oak
bell frame dictated that ringing cease, and the bells had been silent
ever since.
With enthusiastic village community support, and with the joint leadership
of the Brayford Parish Council and the High Bray Parish Church Council, a
group was formed to raise funds so that our bells should ring again.
Furthermore it was also proposed to install external lighting to increase
the presence of the church as it sits on top of the hill overlooking the
village.
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