The sound of church bells will soon return to Overton, marking the end of a major restoration project that has kept them silent for months.
Back in October, the village’s peal of bells was carefully removed from the church tower by Whites of Appleton and taken away for renovation and repair. During their absence, further improvements were carried out, including the replacement of the louvres and upgrades to sound attenuation in the tower.
The work is now complete, and the bells are due to return to Overton at the end of the month. Before being reinstalled, they will be placed in the nave of the church for a short period, giving residents a rare chance to see them up close.
To mark the occasion, a special Service of Hallowing of the Bells will take place at 6pm on Palm Sunday, March 29. The service will be led by the Bishop of Basingstoke, Kelly, and attended by the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Colin Phillimore.
The church will remain open in the days leading up to the reinstallation, allowing visitors to view the restored bells before they are returned to their place in the tower.
The project brings to an end the longest period without bell ringing in the village since the Covid-19 pandemic, restoring a much-loved sound to the heart of the community.
