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Church Clock Restoration
For the past three years quite rightly all our efforts have been concentrated on the refurbishment of the Belmont Centre but now that the building has been returned to us and is fully operational it is timely that we address the matter of the church clock. It is many years since the clock was last cleaned and overhauled and it is now in need of urgent attention before it literally grinds to a halt. The clock mechanism itself needs to be cleaned and overhauled, a pendulum regulator and possibly a clock strike night silencer fitted and most importantly that the clock is converted to auto-winding. (Many people are probably unaware that at the moment the clock has to be manually wound twice a week by a number of dedicated volunteers but it is highly desirable, not least from a safety point of view, that the clock is modernized to eliminate this laborious task as soon as possible.) Finally it cannot have escaped the attention of most people that there is an urgent need to have the clock faces restored and re-gilded.
Estimates for the cost of the work involved were obtained a couple of years ago and will obviously need to be up-dated. However, at the time the cost for cleaning, overhauling, conversion to auto-winding, fitting a pendulum regulator, re-gilding the four clock faces and the necessary scaffolding that would be required was £32,000 (2007 estimates).
Our Clock Restoration Fund currently stands at £7330, under a quarter of the sum required to complete the restoration. Joyce Fishburne has very kindly agreed that all the proceeds of her card sales can be applied to the Clock Fund and we are most grateful for her dedication in devoting so much time and effort into producing so many cards each year. In the meantime donations from the congregation towards the restoration fund would be very warmly welcomed. Is there an opportunity for some sponsored activities to raise funds?
As the church clock is a prominent landmark in the town and countless numbers of people check their watches against it each day the Rector during 2010 will launch a town appeal for funds to restore the clock to its former glory. If it should stop or show an incorrect time you can be sure the Rector receives a telephone call so it is hoped that many people in the town will feel that they would like to be associated with its restoration.
P L Cuerden, Honorary Treasurer
Editor's Note. See Church Clock
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