PLANS are to be announced for two major funding programmes which, together, aim to raise £280,000 for ‘ambitious and life-changing projects’ at St Cleer Church.

The official announcements will be made during the Christmas tree festival at the church in St Cleer, on Friday (December 7). The bell restoration project will see the current six bells replaced with nine newly-cast bells. The Big Plan will renovate, upgrade and introduce many outdated — and non-existent — facilities and create new useable space.

The church tower houses six bells which are rung for services, weddings and other events. Tower captain Ian Banbury said: “Our bells are growing old and showing their age. Our plan is to install a new set which will enable ringing to carry on here for many hundreds of years.

“We have a growing team of enthusiastic ringers who are excited to see this historic plan move forward.”

Priest in Charge of St Cleer Parish Church, the Rev Becca Bell, said: “Our church performs many functions, the main one of which is regular worship. It is a much-loved building which has many community uses but these are limited by the poor basic facilities and restricted space.

“We want to open the church up and make it much more accessible to the wider community.”

The church tower houses six bells which are rung for services, weddings and other events.

Mrs Bell said: “These are ambitious and life-changing projects which will have a real and positive effect on the church, the village and the parish, now and for generations to come.”