KIRKBY Malham's historic church bells could be silenced unless thousands of pounds are raised to save them.

The bellringers at St Michael the Archangel parish church need £37,000 to pay for a new steel frame to safely hang the existing bells, as the current wooden frame is near the end of its life.

The Victorian structure was strengthened in 1992 after the church's notable 398-year-old tenor bell fell from the frame while being rung for a morning service.

However, the frame moves and twists under the forces of the tower's three heavy bells and the time has come for a modern steel replacement.

Tower captain George Parker explained: "The bells themselves are fine, it is the frame they are set in that's the problem. It wobbles about and it is undersize for the job."

The bellringers want to take the opportunity to add three lighter bells to the complement to enable learner campanologists to ring at Kirkby Malham.

Mr Parker said: "The trouble is they are such big heavy awkward bells we can't teach people on them. We have three experienced bellringers and we have another two or three who want to learn but they have had to go to Giggleswick and Burnsall to have a go and practice there.

"If we got three more smaller bells we could teach people here, and there are a few who have expressed an interest in learning."

Six bells would enable no less than 720 "changes" to be rung at Kirkby Malham - with three bells just six are possible.

Kirkby Malham's bells are so historically important that two of the three are listed in the same way buildings can be listed.

The oldest, the tenor bell, was cast almost 400 years ago in 1602 and was paid for by Josias Lambert, of Calton Hall, the father of Oliver Cromwell's General John Lambert who played a major role in the English Civil War. It carries the coat of arms of Elizabeth I and is said to weigh 25 cwt.

Also listed is the tenor's "little sister", the treble bell which was cast in 1617. The third bell dates from the 18th century.

As well as ringing out across four centuries of worship, wars, weddings, festivals and funerals, the oldest bell has its place in literary history as Charles Kingsley, who wrote The Water Babies while staying at Tarn House, Malham, mentions its sonorous tone in his famous book.

Malhamdale also has a unique centuries-old tradition regarding the ringing of its bells. Called The Virgin Chimes, the bells are rung without ropes by ringers moving the clappers by hand, just before midnight each Christmas Eve.

Already the bellringers have paid a deposit on a redundant bell which will be taken out of a church in Plymouth in the summer. It will be transported to Malhamdale and placed in the church while the rest of the money is being raised.

A formal appeal for £25,000 (£12,000 has already been raised) will be launched on the day of the Malhamdale Meander, a 26-mile annual walk, on May 6.

Vicar of Kirkby Malham, Rev Mark I'Anson, said: "We have such a lovely old church, it would be marvellous if we could get a stronger frame and these extra bells."

It is hoped the work will be complete in time for the 400th anniversary of Josias Lambert's "Great Tenor" so local bellringers can ring a quarter peal, 1,260 changes.

Picture by Stephen Garnett shows George Parker and Malcolm Bland. 15/2770/16

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