The church bells that had lain silent for a century

For at least 100 years, a medieval church's bells had lain silent - through countless services, weddings and the turn of the millennium.

Now villagers in Swafield, near North Walsham, are the first in generations to hear their distinctive peal following a restoration of the centuries-old bells and the structure that supports them.

St Nicholas Church has now blessed, rehung and played out the bells in what church warden Tim Payne described as a "touching moment" for the village.

"The privilege of seeing them, let alone blessing them, is enormous - it's just really exciting," said Reverend Dr Sally Myers.

The bells had been deemed unsafe, with about £22,000 raised through grants and fundraising to pay for their safe removal in July and to be sent for work at a specialist in Somerset.

"They've had quite a holiday," said Payne.

"When they went away, they were looking a bit rusty and the heads weren't very good at all, but now they've come back absolutely beautiful."

Anticipation had been building in the village, with "a lot of excitement" over the bells' return, he added.

"People have been asking us over the last year, when are they coming back, when can we hear them," said Payne.

"The bells haven't been heard as a set for over 100 years, so there's a lot of anticipation of what they're going to sound like.

"For me, it's going to be quite emotional because I've actually never heard them.

"It's going to be really, really thrilling."

The bells no longer swing or require bell-ringers but remain stationary and are chimed by a hammer.

The digital system means they can be operated remotely and programmed at the church, which also hosts community events under its guise as St Nicks Arts Centre.

Myers said she felt "a little bit overwhelmed" at having the bells back.

"With there being four bells, I really wanted to name them - and have them kind of ring out - as peace and love and joy and hope," she added.

"There are some of our older residents who can just about remember when one of the bells was ringing about 50 years ago and they are so excited to hear the full set again.

"It means a great deal and it's rather like the church itself; it's a symbol.

"When people hear them, it just reminds them of a different way of being."

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