A PROJECT to keep the bells ringing at St Peter’s Church, Cornworthy, has been awarded Heritage Lottery grant funding.
The church has received a grant of £25,000 towards the restoration of its historic bells and bell frame.
Led by an enthusiastic team of ringers, the project focuses on keeping alive the ancient 400-year-old art form for future generations in the South Hams.
It will enable more people to become informed about the history of the bells dating from 1781 and the contribution they make to the life of the parish church and the village community.
Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, who has also donated £750 from his Devon county fund, said: ‘The church is a beautiful building at the heart of Cornworthy and the historic bells such an integral part being the way of communication across the parish for centuries.’
The project also thanked others who had offered support, including the Devon Bell Restoration Fund, Garfield Weston, Churchcare, the Barron Bell Trust, Devon Historic Churches, the Cooper Legacy c/o Exeter Diocese, the Archdeacon of Totnes, Devon County Council, the Sharpe Trust and Cornworthy Parish Council.