Griff joins the “save our bell” campaign

THE campaign to safeguard the future of one of Warrington’s most historic bells has caught the eye of comedian and conservationist Griff Rhys Jones.
Warrington Civic Society has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to save the historic Crosfield Bell which was recently removed from the tower at St Thomas’ Church in Stockton Heath.
A total of £5,330 is needed as a deposit by February 12 to prevent the Bell, donated by John Crosfield in 1883 in memory of his wife, being lost to Warrington forever.
Griff Rhys Jones, is the president of Civic Voice, the national organisation representing Britain’s civic societies and is also the president of many other preservation and conservation charities.
He said: “What a great project. I urge the people of Warrington to get behind the fundraising appeal to save the historic Crosfield bell. Give a little, give a lot and ring that bell for Warrington”
The one ton 136-year-old tolling bell, valued at between £7,000-£10,000, has not seen active service for decades and was donated to the church by local industrialist John Crosfield in 1880 in memory of his wife – and the Civic Society would like it to remain in the town.
The Walton Lea Partnership has offered, in principle, to host the returned bell in their walled gardens – the remains of the grounds of John Crosfield’s house.
Anyone interested in helping with a donation to save the bell should contact Civic Society chairman John Shipley by email at [email protected] or by calling 07954 521 972.
They can also use an online donation page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=SaveTheBell
So far, more than £300 has been received in small amounts and the West Lancashire Freemasons, via the Warrington Group, have pledged £1,000.