An historic church bell has made a triumphant return to Colchester - 400 years after it was displaced by an earthquake which hit the town.
Parishioners attended a special service at St Peter's Church, North Hill, to welcome the bell back after it was handed back to them by kind-hearted bellringers in Tollesbury.
The 152kg sanctus, or clock, bell's journey began when it was knocked down during the earthquake which split the church tower where it hung in two.
Dick Furminger, a bellringer with the church for 20 years who, despite retiring two years ago, still regularly practices there, said the bell was then sold to pay for the repairs needed to the roof.
It was bought by a man called T Binney, of Tollesbury, where it stayed until Bob Leavett, who was captain of the Tollesbury bellringers, bought it in the 1970s.
Mr Furminger said when he died in 1993, the bell passed on to the rest of the bellringers, who set about finding its original owners to hand it back.
A special plaque explaining what happened to the bell and how it came to return to the church will now be hung near the bell.
Published Thursday November 7, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article