THE bells of All Saints Church in Longhope rang out to welcome people to a service celebrating their return.

They fell silent in 2018 after a survey revealed the medieval tower which houses them needed to be strengthened.

But after a campaign that raised almost £200,000 the safety work on the tower was completed, allowing the bells to chime again.

A special service to rededicate the bells was led – unexpectedly – by the Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Rev Rachel Treweek.

The Bishop of Tewkesbury, Rt Rev Robert Springett, had to pull out just three hours before the start for family reasons.

Bishop Rachel told a packed church: “These bells speak of community and of friendship. Each bell is beautifully crafted as a unique bell and yet when they ring they create an amazing harmony of community.

“When you hear these bells ringing out week after week, ringing out confidently loud and clear above the noise of everyday life, around us and within us, may you and those across these communities lift your eyes, open your ears to God and recognise that Heaven is touching us and Earth is touching us.”

Rev Lara Bloom, the priest in charge of the Forest Edge benefice, which includes Longhope said he made “no apologies” for reading a long list of thanks to people who had worked on the project.

She said: “It is quite long but it represents the truly collaborative of this project.”

Herbie Renfield, the tower captain – leader of the bell ringers – said it was wonderful to have them back.

He said: “They’ve always been lovely bells and Taylors of Loughborough have fettled them so they’re even better.

“They should need almost no attention for five years, they are in really good condition.”

More people are being trained to be members of the ringing band and last Saturday (May 4), a full, three-hour peal was rung on them for the first time.

Last week, a bell ringing team rang a full peal on the bells, lasting some three hours of continuous ringing, the first time it has been attempted on Longhope’s 8 bells.