The Hertford County Association of Change-Ringers

Hertford County Bell Restoration Fund

How to apply for a grant
Grants awarded


The HCACR Bell Restoration Fund is a registered charity (No. 264847) which exists to provide grants to church authorities to help them provide, maintain or improve bells and bell installations, or maintain the fabric of towers and belfries. The area covered by the Fund is the county of Hertfordshire, although churches in the parishes of Chipping Barnet, Monken Hadley and Great Stanmore are also eligible.

The Fund was created in 1972, since when the value of its assets and the size of the grants awarded have increased steadily. In 1995, a typical year, income was approximately £3400, and four grants were awarded totaling £4000. Apart from investment income, the Fund’s income comes from, and as a result of the activities of, ringers within the county. Many towers make an annual donation equivalent to the income from one wedding, there are donations - many covenanted - from individuals, and the Association usually donates its surplus income each year to the Fund. The Association subscription is traditionally set to ensure that around 50% of subscription income can be made available in this way.

Church authorities wishing to apply for a grant from the Fund should send full details of the proposed work, planned timescales, the present fund-raising status, and all estimates received, to the Fund’s Secretary.

Following an application for a grant, then, once the Fund’s Secretary has all the required information, the Fund’s Trustees will meet to discuss the application. If they decide that the proposed work is eligible then they may make a recommendation for a grant at a following Association General Meeting - usually the Annual General Meeting at the end of the following April. The Association itself decides whether to award a grant, and if so then how much, based upon the Trustees’ recommendation. Any grant is usually payable at the completion of work, although earlier payment is sometimes possible.

The grants awarded by the Fund since its creation are shown in the table below.
YearTowerGrantPercentEstimated costPurpose
1974Sarratt£10021%£476Rehanging
1975Stevenage£5017%£300Bell repair
1976Ashwell£1000.7%£15000Tower repair
1976Rushden£1007%£1502Augmentation
1977Lemsford£3007%£4450New 6
1978Little Gaddesden£00%£7100New 6
1978Watton-at-Stone£50034%£1480New 8
1978Albury£25018%£1355Augmentation
1979Ware£5002%£22000Tower repair
1979Nettleden£20014%£1387Rehanging
1980Little Hadham£50024%£2064Augmentation
1980Rickmansworth£25043%£576Bell repair
1980Harpenden£2001%£20000Tower repair
1980Knebworth£2000.7%£30000Tower repair
1981Hunsdon£10010%£1000Rehanging
1981South Mymms£1000.3%£30000Tower repair
1981Furneux Pelham£5005%£10000Rehanging
1982Kimpton£5005%£9357Augmentation
1982Great Munden£20047%£300Bell repair
1983Hemel Hempstead£10000.4%£250000Tower repair
1984Anstey£2509%£2737Bell repair
1984Aldbury£5003%£17740Augmentation
1985Codicote£5005%£10000Rehanging
1985North Mymms£10006%£18060Rehanging
1985Great Hormead£508%£615Bell repair
1985Widford£5006%£9000Rehanging
1985Hinxworth£15010%£1535Rehanging
1987Lilley£6007%£8612Augmentation
1987Harpenden£508%£600Clappers
1987Hertford, All Saits£15010%£1531Clappers
1987Tring£10004%£25000Rehanging
1987Berkhamsted£1503%£4416Repairs
1988Kings Langley£5002%£30000Tower repair
1989Albury£4009%£4648Bell recast
1989Bishops Stortford£2005%£4200Overhaul
1990Harpenden£5001.5%£32000Recasting
1990Essendon£15004%£37000Augmentation
1990St Albans St Peter£15001.1%£140000Restoration
1992Barnet£20007.1%£28000Rehanging
1993Benington£100025%£4000Rehanging
1993Bushey Heath£13024.5%£530Repairs
1993Standon£25007.1%£35000Rehanging
1993Abbots Langley£200010%£20000Rehanging
1994Barkway£20009.5%£21000Rehanging
1994Flamstead£20001%£200000Tower repairs
1994Hertford St Andrew£100013%£7500Partial rehanging
1995Lilley£50011%£4500Augmentation
1995St Albans St Stephen£50013%£3750Bell repairs
1997Potten End£5001.7%£29000Chime
1997Northchurch£100015.6%£6400Bell repair
1998Ridge£20005%£41000Rehanging
1998Sandon£250011.4%£22000Augmentation
1998Westmill£25005.3%£39000Rehanging
1998Kimpton£10001.67%£60,000Tower restoration
1998Ashwell£50011.9%£4,200Overhaul fittings
1998Great Amwell£30036.14%£830Clapper refurbishment
1999Stocking Pelham£5009.09%£5,500Rehanging
1999Bishops Stortford, Holy Trinity£5005.15%£9,700Rehanging
1999Great Offley£25008.3%£30000Rehanging
2000Hemel Hempstead£10002.94%£34000Tower repairs
2000Knebworth£100011.11%£9000Tower repairs
2001Ashwell£25008.33%£30000Tower repairs
2001Wallington£25041.67%£600New ropes
2002Little Wymondley£500022.73%£22000Augmentation
2002Ware£20004.0%£50000Tower repairs
2003Sawbridgeworth£1000010.42%£96000Tower repairs
2003Kings Langley£11017.74%£620Bell repairs
2004Great Gaddesden£200010.53%£19000Tower repairs
2004Welwyn£100028.57%£3500Bell repairs
2005Great Berkhamsted£70012.33%£5675Sound proofing
2005Monken Hadley£50024.93%£2000Bell repairs
2005Thorley£10004.15%£24050Tower repairs
2006Bishop's Stortford£300013.9%£21588Bell repairs
2006King's Walden£450014.54%£30928Bell repairs

Notes:
Tring (1987) drew only half of the approved grant.
Rushden (1976) and Hertford All Saints (1987) did not draw their grants.

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Last updated 22nd March 2008
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