Bless these bells, says bishop (From Witney Gazette)

Bless these bells, says bishop

9:00am Wednesday 19th April 2006 in Witney

ALMOST 100 people filled St Nicholas Church in Asthall last month to watch the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, dedicate its seven bells after a £60,000 refit.

Three new bells were cast last year to join the original set, made in the early 1400s. After installing a new ringing floor, and removing several hundred years worth of bird droppings, the church's new peal of six bells rang out for the first time on January 13.

The bishop made the dedication in front of a congregation of 96 at the church on March 23, and the service was led by the rev Richard Combs of the Burford Benefice.

Guest of honour was the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, sister of author Nancy Mitford, who is buried in Asthall churchyard.

She paid for one of the bells in memory of her brother and sisters Nancy, Pamela, Tom, Diana, Unity and Jessica Mitford, who all lived at Asthall between 1919 and 1926.

A documentary including an interview with the duchess has been filmed charting the project from the fundraising to casting the bells in London, and to the installation and the dedication.