AN APPEAL to keep the bells ringing at Malvern's landmark church has almost reached halfway.

Malvern Priory’s Bellframe Funding Appeal has reached almost £83,000 in cash and pledges to its £200,000 target.

The priory bells have been rung for more than 600 years.

They are getting harder to ring as the frame moves a bit and this also puts strain on the tower.

The fund-raising target to refurbish the Victorian bellframe and hang two new bells was established in January this year.

This followed a meeting in the tower with a representative from the Whitechapel Bell Company and a consulting engineer.

Since then, the appeal is well on the way to becoming a ringing success.

Trevor Still, chairman of the Bellframe Funding Group, said: “We have reached almost £83,000 in cash or pledges. We have been successful in applying to various funding charities, with more still waiting for their trustees’ decisions.”

Another development has been the appointment of the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, as patron of the Priory’s Bellframe Appeal.

“We are very honoured and grateful,” said Mr Still.

A new aspect of the appeal is an “order a peal” facility, open to all. Mr Still said: “The ringers would be very pleased to ring ‘quarter peals’ to mark any anniversary or special occasion.

Donations will then go towards the appeal.

A decision to look into either replacing or restoring the ailing belframe was taken as far back as 2009, when the diocese ruled out replacing it and went for restoration as a more satisfactory and cost-effective option.

At the time the likely cost was put at £100,000, but that estimate doubled following the meeting in January 2013.

The priory’s nine bells date from 1380 to 1887 – the year when the Victorian bellframe was installed.

Further details are at greatmalvernpriory.

org.uk/bells