30th March 2003
AT the beginning of March, what had been a familiar sound in Port Erroll on Sunday mornings was heard again for the first time in almost 30 years.
The Cruden Bay Congregational Church bell has been restored and is once again ringing again to summon people to morning service.The bell was erected in March 1903 and rang out over the village until the early 1970s when faults developed in the bell, making it unsafe.
A decision was recently taken to restore the bell and it was removed from the bell-tower, cleaned and repaired.
Thanks from the congregation are due to local blacksmith Leslie Stewart who carried out the work free-of-charge. Mr Stewart will also be restoring the original clapper of the bell, and present it suitably mounted to the congregation.
The congregation would also like to thank Bernie Bruce of Cruden Bay Salmon Company for donating a new bell rope and Bruce Smith Company, New Seatown for splicing a rope and for carrying out remedial jobs to the tower.
A service to rededicate the bell will be held in Cruden Bay Congregational Church on Sunday, March 30, at 11am. John Noble will conduct this service and a warm welcome is extended to all to celebrate the restoration of the bell.
Cruden Bay Congregational Church
Rededication of the Bell
At the beginning of March, what had been a familiar sound in Port Erroll on Sunday mornings was heard again for the first time for almost thirty years. The Cruden Bay Congregational Church bell has been restored and is ringing again to summon people to morning service.
The bell was erected in March 1903 and rang out over the village until the early 1970’s when faults developed in the bell cradle making it unsafe. The decision was taken recently to restore the bell and it was removed from the bell-tower, cleaned and repaired.
The thanks of the congregation are due to the blacksmith, Leslie Stewart, who carried out this work free of charge. Leslie will also restore the original clapper of the bell, and present it, suitably mounted, to the congregation.
Thanks are also due to Bertie Bruce of Cruden Bay Salmon Company for donating a new bell rope and to local fisherman, Jockie Kensett, for splicing on this rope and for carrying out repairs to the bell-tower.
A Service to rededicate the bell will be held in Cruden Bay Congregational Church on Sunday, March 30th, 2003 at 11 a.m. John Noble will conduct this Service and a warm welcome is extended to all to celebrate the restoration of the bell.