Bells could be removed from listed church

A set of eight bells could be permanently removed from a Grade II listed church after it closed as a place of worship.

Plans have been submitted by the Durham Diocese Board of Finance to remove the bells from St Mary's Church in South Hylton, Sunderland, so they can be repaired and potentially reused elsewhere.

The church has entered a "use seeking period" following a declining congregation and rising repair costs, according to a heritage statement submitted with the application.

Previous proposals for the building included its use as an arts hub for the South Hylton community.

The latest plans submitted to Sunderland City Council say the bells could be moved to another church or used to train bell ringers, with the aim of ensuring they remain available for the public to hear.

A tonal analysis found some of the bells had deteriorated and would eventually need to be recast using the original bell metal.

The heritage statement, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, says the bells are "worth preserving and reusing somewhere they can be heard again".

It adds: "However, if they remain in situ it is unlikely that they will ever be rung, and may continue to deteriorate over time, unused."

Specialist contractors would remove the bells from their hangings and lower them through existing access hatches, if listed building consent is granted.

The statement adds: "We consider that repurposing the bells in this way, by repurposing them at a site where they will be rung, will be a public benefit and prevent the eventual loss of part of the building's heritage."

A decision is expected after a consultation.

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