Bell added to church of 'historic importance'

A 13th bell being added to St Anne's Church in Alderney is "hugely important for the island from an historical point of view".

The Reverend Samantha Martell said the bells had a "massive historic importance" for Alderney because they "rang out on the 23 of June 1940 to signal the evacuation just before the German occupation in World War II, so they are specifically poignant and important here for us".

The bells ring for the 10:00 GMT Sunday service, weddings and funerals and were important from a "community point of view".

Helen McGregor, leader of the bell-ringing team said the new bell enhanced the sound.

She said: "It provides versatility, if you could imagine that the 12 bells we have already are a keyboard, then they're only white notes, and so this is a black note.

"It will give us an opportunity to perform in different keys."

St Anne's Church had been the only church in the island with a full set of 12 bells.

Martell said: "I don't think I've ever heard anybody say anything negative about them, in fact I say to the ringers ... don't put the mufflers on when you're practising.

"Open up, let us all hear, because they are just so wonderful."

Matthew Higby, leader of the team that installed the new bell, said it was tuned off-site and no extra work was needed once it had been hung in the tower.

"We design the bell from the outset to be a particular note... and we machine metal from the parts of the inside which bring the bell into tune with itself but also with its companions in the tower."

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