by Alan Quick

FOLLOWING the appeal for funding support to help restore the Crediton Parish Church clock chimes in the issue of the “Crediton Courier” published on January 19, Crediton Parish Church member Bill Jerman says the church is now in a position to be able to have the clock chimes restored.

Mr Jerman explained: “I am delighted to be able to report that thanks to the very kind and generous support from a number of individuals we will now be able to restore the clock chimes.”

He went on: “Being a parish church within the Church of England, the Holy Cross in Crediton is subject to Church of England Faculty Jurisdiction rules (put simply the church equivalent of planning) and List B minor works permission will now be sought from the Archdeacon of Exeter for the installation of the new clock auto wind system that is needed.

“Once the permission has been granted an order for the new auto wind system will be placed with the Cumbria Clock Company.

“The locally-based engineer from the clock company knows our clock well as he has serviced it annually for a number of years and he repainted and gilded both of the clock dials last year.

“Funds we thought we would have to divert to part fund the clock chimes will now mostly be allocated to our Campaign Roof Appeal, which is now approaching the sum of £100,000.

“The exact timing of the clock project completion is not known at the moment but hopefully it will not be too long until we have the reassuring sound of the clock chimes once again sounding out across Crediton.”

Anyone who would like a guided tour to see the clock mechanism in the tower or would like further information about the renewal of the auto wind motors for the church clock should please contact either Bill Jerman on 01363 772865 or Geoff Sparling on 01363 776681.