Church bells are silenced by ‘newbie’ neighbours

A ROW over bells has silenced a church’s chimes for the first time in decades after “newbie” neighbours complained they were too loud.

Residents have blamed recent arrivals for the decision to silence the bell at Holy Trinity church, a grade Ii*-listed building which first opened in 1829 in the district of Hotwells in Bristol.

The sound of the bells has been ringing across the area hourly for nearly 200 years, not including a period after it was bombed during the Second World War.

However, it has been silent since Aug 18 following a number of complaints from residents living nearby that its constant ringing had made it difficult for them to sleep.

This has prompted criticism from residents, one of whom asked: “Why would you buy a house, behind a church and then complain about the noise?”

Authorities have been urged not to allow “a few newbies” to dictate policy, and have received offers of donations in case the church needs funds to change the bell’s mechanism. The bell currently operates either on a continuous basis or not at all because of its 24-hour mechanism, so the vicar and churchwardens have temporarily silenced the clock bell while the parochial church council investigates options.

Church authorities added that the cost of changing the mechanism “would not be inconsiderable” and that they may need more donations to fund any such work.

‘Why would you buy a house, behind a church and then complain about the noise?’

“We sympathise with members of the local community who may be having problems sleeping and we hope that this interim measure will go some way to improve this,” they said.

“We also know that some members of the community will be saddened by the interim silencing of the bell, particularly during the day, and we really hope that the community can help us reach a solution that will work for everyone,” they said.