Ringing Forums

Our church has just set up a Friends group to organise events, secular uses etc, just as described in the article. The aim being to make the church building into a successful community resource which will be available for [almost] anything. The Friends are very keen on bellringing, as a community use which already exists. If they can succeed, then there is no fear of closure despite the small, ageing congregation.

Thank you Sam (is that what you like to be called?), that's very helpful. Did you find that blocking up just the one side caused an appreciable diminution of sound on that side? I.e. did the sound just go round? Did you use marine ply?

Thanks John, yes layout is complicated and there are many factors to consider. Don't know whether to DIY or just stump up for a contractor to solve all the problems!

Part of the project is to install sound control, as the bells are uncomfortably loud outside. However - there are already swift nest boxes installed in the belfry windows. Has anyone experience of this situation, please? If so, what did you do - did you a) install the sound control on the inside of the swift nest boxes or b) cut holes in the sound control to fit around the boxes? Thanks.

Thanks Sam, that's good advice.

Thank you Philip, I had no idea that this service existed. I will discuss it with the team and see what they think.

Thanks Philip, I take your point that nothing is free! I suppose ideally the church would have a competent person working for it as project manager (either one of us, possessing the necessary skills, or an employed person). Sadly, none of us has the necessary skills. And the church architect, from what I have heard, does not "fight our corner", so I do not think he would be a suitable person at all. So, unless there happens to be someone who earns their living by being a qualified project manager specialising in church projects, I don't think there is anyone available. So we might as well pay the main contractor to project manage the subcontractors, since we're going to have to pay someone to do it!

Thanks John, very interesting account.

Thank you John. Did you find that the specialist company and architect were exceedingly expensive? That is my impression, which is why I feel it would be a bad idea to use them. Did you also find that the PCC found it rather time-consuming to co-ordinate these extra people? Our PCC seem to experience great difficulty getting companies to respond to them at all, which again is why I think it would be a bad idea to put this extra burden on them.

Hello AJB, sorry for not replying earlier - have only just revisited this forum. The answer to your question is - yes, we have a very strong preference for doing so. However, of the four UK bellhanging firms, two specifically state that they will not do this. So really we are trying to choose between the other two. Best wishes, Barbara

Thank you for your advice. I would love to hear from somebody who has actual recent experience of having work carried out by a specific company. So, if that is you, please do email me directly at blegallezatyahoodotcodotuk . Your comments will be shared with our band and the PCC but will otherwise be in confidence. Thank you.