- 13/08/2021
- Posted by: Ken Skates MS
- Category: News
A community’s fundraising campaign to restore its historic church’s bells is being supported by local Member of the Senedd Ken Skates.
The Clwyd South MS visited St Dunawd’s Church in Bangor-on-Dee on Wednesday (August 11) to meet with Revd Canon Sue Huyton, Rector in the Bangor-on-Dee group of churches, after backing the bid for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
The campaign aims to raise £55,000 to get the restoration completed, and hopes are high that a successful funding bid will give the 300-year-old church’s bells a new lease of life. Mr Skates has also called for any local businesses who want to help to get in touch.
Mr Skates said: “The church is a vital part of the community, so I was more than happy to support the bid for Heritage Lottery funding. It’s used for concerts and craft fairs, as well as a wide range of other community events including exhibitions of local artists. The primary school has also expressed an interest in making the project a part of the new, more local, curriculum.”
Mr Skates said he would also be contacting Cadw – the historic environment service of the Welsh Government – to seek further support for the campaign.
He said: “St Dunawd’s stands proudly in the heart of the village and is a much-loved local landmark. There is a fascinating display about local history inside, and the plan is to add panels explaining the story of the bells and their restoration.
“Until the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the bells rang out regularly. The people of Bangor-on-Dee are extremely proud of the church and its heritage, and I hope their generous support and the hard work of volunteers will pay off and the bells will be brought back to life in the near future.”
Local businesses who would like to contribute to the campaign can contact Mr Skates or email [email protected]
