ANTIQUE church bells within a 13th century church in Calstock are being preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The bells of St Andrew’s date back to 1773 when they were cast by John Pennington and Co from Stoke Climsland.

The Pennington family cast more than 1,000 bells for churches in Devon and Cornwall between 1620 and the early 1800s. St Andrew’s is one of only ten churches in Cornwall to still have six original Pennington bells — known as the Pennington ring.

The bells were last re-hung in 1952 when the headstock, which the bells hang from, was cast in steel.

This time though the bells will get new headstocks, clappers, bearings and wooden fittings in order to keep them ringing out for many years to come.

St Andrew’s tower captain Sue McClaughry said: ‘We feel the bells don’t belong to us they belong to the next generation and we have to pass them on in the best possible condition we can.

‘They bring great enjoyment and satisfaction to people who enjoy hearing the bells ring while they are walking around Calstock.

‘They were hung in 1773 which was the year of the Boston Tea party and they would have rung for the Battle of Waterloo and the end of the First World War and the Second World War. They have celebrated all these events and that’s a tremendous achievement.

‘The bells are important to the community and are important for future generations.’

The church, which sits within the site of a former Roman fort, has raised around £16,000 from local contributions and about £28,000 from grants, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers and the Duke of Cornwall’s Benevolent Fund, amongst others.

The remaining £9,000 had been set aside over a period of years to fund such a necessity.

The work is being undertaken by John Taylor and Co in Loughborough and the bells will be taken to and from the site by local removal firm Cyril Worth and Son for free.

While the bells are out of the tower their metal frame will be stripped and re-painted by volunteers.

A talk by local expert Owen Borlase will be held in St Andrew’s at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 20.

The bells will be on display at this time and on Thursday, March 21 from 3.30pm and 9pm.

A final fundraising event will be at 8pm on Saturday, April 6 when The Kit Hillbillies will be performing live in the church.