Tower Restoration and Bell Project dedicated to
 Fabian Stedman

It is hoped that by Christmas 2009 we will be ringing the new peal of eight at Yarkhill Church. We are looking ahead to the prospect of welcoming you either as a ringer or non-ringer to our church. This page gives a little insight on how things are going  and what we are planning to achieve. 
With a lot of hard work the PCC has secured several grants and raised funds to repair the tower. This amounted to about £56,000 and was no simple task. A grant from English Heritage of £35,000 was a particularly welcome boost.  These repairs were mainly to the stonework, securing unsafe embrasures, and improvement of the guttering around the top of the tower, fitting new intermediate flooring, and access ladders. The work on the tower was completed in March 2008.

Conservation of the old bells.
The cost of conserving the old frame and bells, which it is very likely that Fabian Stedman once rang, is estimated to be around £12,000. The bells need their old cast-in crown staples removed. They will be hung as a chime and used for mid-week services or calling for special occasions when the new peal of bells are not being used. The frame is sound and strong enough to hold the bells but not for a ringing peal. It would be rather foolish to try and make a very unique and old frame come into full use when so much is at stake for the future of its conservation. We are looking for people to sponsor these bells at a minimum cost of £3,000. The old Tenor will be named St John the Baptist. The others are yet to be named so here is your chance!

New Bells
 We have had a lot of interest in the bells which will cost in excess of £60,000. The Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers Bell Restoration Fund has promised £10,000 for the new tenor bell; this bell is to be named Fabian Stedman. Anyone donating a bell will be able to have an inscription put on the bell. The bells will hopefully be ordered next year when the funding and paperwork will be in place.

 New Ringing Gallery.
 The cost for this gallery is estimated to be £30,000. Heating, lighting and redecoration will be required in order to make the tower ready to ring the bells for worship. Soundproofing is a must to allow us to ring and teach ringing, without disturbing the local population, and to host visiting bands of ringers who will want to visit Fabian Stedman's birthplace. This soundproofing will be variable so the bells will be heard in all their glory when rung for Sunday service and other events.