Bells ring out as church restoration reaches milestone
THE bells at St John’s church in Mexborough have been rung for the first time in four years following restoration work.
Timbers in the belfrey were deemed unsafe to allow continued use of the bells so they fell out of use as a £100,000 fund-raising appeal was launched to preserve the Grade I Listed building.
That cash is enough for the first two phases of the Restoration 2030 project and has been raised through a combination of grants and support from the congregation.
External support has come from The Benefact Trust, Fellowship of St John, Number 1 Trust, Church Commissioners, with the Diocese of Sheffield also contributing towards the costs of phase two, which will start this summer with the repointing of the spire and tower.
Restoration 2030 aims to raise the church’s profile as a place of great historical value to the town through annual heritage events and a home for local history.
St John’s is the oldest building in Mexborough by several hundred years and the only Grade I listed building in town. Restoration 2030 is a four-phase project with renovations to install a toilet, kitchen and improved disabled access taking place in the third and fourth phases. The project aims for completion by the end of 2030. Parish priest, Fr Edward Morrison, said: “I am thrilled that we have reached this first landmark in our restoration project.
"The sound of these ancient bells ringing out across the town delighted local residents and has inspired all of us to continue the hard work of restoring St John’s to its former glory and making it fit to serve the needs of our town.”