Tuesday 7 July 2026 saw a milestone moment for the Church of Our Lady, Seaton, as the church bell, thought to date to 1490, was returned to its home in the bell tower after a programme of repair and conservation.
Parishioners and residents gathered to celebrate the return of the church bell with a blessing by Reverend David Atkinson, who commented:“This is a significant day in the story of our historic church. The return of the bell symbolises the mission of Church of Our Lady to reach out with a message of hope and peace and bring together parishioners, residents and visitors, as it has done for hundreds of years. We are delighted the voice of this church is restored to ring again to proclaim God’s love for all.”
The bell last rang in 2010 when, due to concerns that vibrations could damage the structural integrity of the belltower and church building, it was put out of action. Funded by the Church of England Conservation Grants Programme, with financial support from the Pilgrim Trust, the bell has now been fully restored.
Andreas Schrocksnadel of O&P Bells Ltd said:“It’s been a challenge to repair the canons of this heritage bell and bring it back to working order, but well worth the eWort to hear it ring again after so many years. Also, it was a delight to see so many members of the local community turn out to welcome the bell home and see it blessed,
ready to ring out for services, weddings and special occasions.”
Restoration of the bell and bell tower is part of a wider project to secure the future of this Saxon/Norman church. The ‘Ringing Through Time’ project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Houses Foundation, Northumbria Historic Churches Trust, ChurchCare, Newcastle Diocese and The Friends of the Church of Our Lady.
The project will repair and protect the church building, which suWered storm damage in recent years, as well as enabling development of the churchyard by extending its biodiversity. The project will also encourage sharing and recording community memories linked to the heritage church.
The whole project has involved the work of a team of experts including Conservation Architect Michael Atkinson, structural consultants Crawford Higgins, contractors Historic Property Restoration Ltd based in North Shields, Iona Glass of Amble, Beal Architectural Engineering of Birtley and O&P Bells Ltd. Repair and conservation work is almost complete and a programme of free family activities, including art and craft drop-ins, wildlife activities and storytelling will take place in the churchyard over the summer holidays – find out more on the Delaval PCC Facebook page or read more about the project in the latest edition of LINK.