FOR just over 150 years weddings, christenings and other important church services at St Stephen’s have had to pass without the joyful sound of church bells.

But that is set to change this month when a peal of bells will be resonating from the church in Bar-bourne’s tower for the first time in more than a century. Six weeks after the church was consecrated in 1862, the church’s bell tower was closed due to fears that it was unsafe.

A structural engineer has since confirmed that the tower is sound and the church was given a ring of bells last year to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

A practise ring will take place before the first official ring at a church service on Sunday, November 17.

Mark Regan, ringing master at Worcester Cathedral, said: “The great thing about having new bells at St Stephen’s Church is that they are a great asset for the church.

“It is also another activity for people in the parish to have a go at.

“The other nice thing is that it tells everyone in the area that the church is there and that’s the most important thing.”

Rev Canon Dr Stuart Currie said it was brilliant news for the church which is looking for potential bellringers to train up.

Already, taster sessions have been held for people interested in bellringing at St Stephen’s Church in the training centre at Worces-ter Cathedral.

The project to bring bells back to St Stephen’s cost about £90,000 with the £40,000 ring of eight bells from St Nicholas’ Church, Halewood, Merseyside bou-ght by cathedral bellringer Bernard Taylor.

The bells have been in place for six weeks now but work has just come to an end to fit the floors.