A NATIONAL initiative to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War has been given a ringing endorsement by members of St Wilfrid’s Church.

Every Sunday, the bells of the in Grappenhall ring out to summon the parishioners to morning service.

Nick Thomson, ringing master for Grappenhall Bell Ringers, said: “It is a traditional activity going back many hundreds of years.

“Once the preserve of men, it is now enjoyed by both men and women of all ages, although there is always a need for new ringers to keep up this ancient skill.”

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has recently launched a Ringing Remembers campaign aimed at recruiting 1,400 new bell ringers during 2018.

The target reflects the number of bell ringers who fell during the First World War.

Many bell ringers died in the trenches and battlefields of the Great War, some even lost all of them.

St Wilfrid’s Church in Grappenhall also lost one of their bell ringers.

Second Lieutenant John Lancelot Smith of the South Lancashire Regiment died in the Battle of the Somme on August 8, 1916.

He is commemorated on the war memorial within the church.

Any descendants of John are encouraged to get in touch with the bellringers.

Nick added: “This will be the last year that the bells, exactly as they were 100 years ago, will be available to ring.

“Our refurbishment project to keep the bells ringing for many more years means that some need to be recast in order to provide a new peal of bells.”

The Bell Project has now raised more than half of the £175,000 needed and it is expected the new bells will ring for the first time in 2019.

The project includes augmenting the ring of bells from eight to ten, so more ringers will be needed for the two extra bells.

Plans are in place to dedicate one of the new bells to John and the other Grappenhall residents who fell in the First World War.

There is still some funding required for the Bells Project.

Anyone with information or to donate to the cause can call Mike Thomson, tower captain, on 07710 763603 or email the Rector, Revd. Jane Proudfoot on revdproudfoot@hotmail.co.uk or visit mydonate.bt.com/charities/grappenhallbellproject.