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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>At the risk of repeating what may have bee=
n on site=20
before:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The very large former nave has been conver=
ted to=20
offices.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The chancel remains the Parish Church of=20
Oldbury.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The tower has been cleared of all wooden f=
loors=20
below the bells and cocrete stairs, landings and a solid concrete floor (wi=
th=20
access hatch) placed beneath the bells.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The Warner eight, put on ball bearings by =
Mears=20
between the wars remains hanging in a two tier frame, 4 above 4. They are o=
nly a=20
few feet above the concrete floor. The fittings are intact but elderly. The=
re is=20
an Ellacombe and the usual clock hammers. None of these are operational. Th=
e=20
bells and their equipment remain the property of the church and are subject=
to=20
Faculty Jurisdiction.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I understand that the St Martin's Guild ke=
eps an=20
eye on the situation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>DLC</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
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<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>Fro=
m:</B>=20
<A href=3D"mailto:davidbryant@h..."=20
title=3Ddavidbryant@h...>David Bryant</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
href=3D"mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com"=20
title=3Dbellhistorians@yahoogroups.com>bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</A>=
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 18, 2005 7:=
02=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bell Historians] Old=
bury,=20
West Midlands (was Monkton, Devon)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>
<DIV><BR>Does anyone know the fate of the bells of Christ Church, Oldbury=
West=20
<BR>Midlands (10.5 cwt)? The church is still in use (as a church), but th=
e=20
<BR>tower is let out to various companies as offices. As far as I know th=
e=20
<BR>bells are still in the tower, but a concrete floor has been installed=
=20
<BR>directly beneath them. It is very unlikely that they will ever be run=
g=20
<BR>again (at least in that tower).<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#ff0000><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>I heard a rumour that the St Martin's Guild had looked in=
to=20
recovering <BR>them.</FONT><BR><BR>Haven't we discussed this before? If I=
=20
remember rightly, somebody told us that due to the concrete floor it=
=20
would not be possible to ring the bells, and equally it would not be poss=
ible=20
to get them out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#ff0000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#ff0000 face=3DArial size=3D2>David</FONT></DIV></BODY=
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