Well, that didn’t last long, did it?
This time last week, I was waxing lyrical about the arrival of spring and the long-missed sound of the chiming of the church clock on the hour.
I even wrote about its repair for my not-yet-published editorial in the parish magazine, which has gone to press but isn’t out yet:
It is a joy to see it working again and chiming the hour, too. It’s been a part of village life for so long, it’s like welcoming back an old friend.
And then that ‘old friend’ promptly turned around and fled.
You see, after just two days, the church clock was stopped from chiming.
Apparently, someone new to the village complained that it was keeping them awake.
I’m not angry but I am saddened and upset. Village life is precious and the clock has been there for generations, an aural reminder of the passing of time. It takes one person to complain and then the bell is cancelled.
Now I know there are more important things in the world to worry about right now, and I don’t wish to go all Wicker Man, but the chiming on the hour, all day and all night, has been part and parcel of this village for years.
Which is why it was such a delight to hear it again.
Could there be a compromise? Maybe the clock could chime the hour only during the day. Apparently, though, that comes at quite a cost. I’ve heard £2,000-plus mentioned. And I’m not happy that the church would have to pay that just to satisfy one complainant. I’m not prepared to chip in, either.
I live near the church and I can honestly say that the hourly chiming has never kept me awake. You become accustomed to the sound. Your brain tunes out.
I do hope church leaders can resolve the problem swiftly.
Maddie Grigg 
We had exactly the same mini problem here in deepest eastern Lincolnshire. Ir was explained to the recently-moved-in complainant that this was normal and also depended somewhat on wind direction, etc. Nothing more was said and our clock, fortunately, continues to chime (though it does sometimes take me slightly unawares if I’m walking the dog through the churchyard on the hour!)
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Turn it back on ASAP please.
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Surely the response to the complainer should be “the church didnt decide to move next to you…….”
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Quite.
It seems like this is happening a lot lately. I’ve just seen a similar story from Witheridge, in Devon, which has just happened. And again, one person has complained.
Playing devil’s advocate, I think when the people moved in, the church clock wasn’t chiming the hour because it was broken. So when it was mended it must have come as a bit of a shock.
I was overjoyed when I heard it again. The church clock has been chiming the hour, all day and all night, for generations. So sad it’s been silenced.
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