St John's Church Hanley

[john]

The newly appointed Secretary of the Redundant Churches Committee for the
Diocese of Lichfield has given permission for me to forward his reply to my
enquiry about the above bells etc.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Grigson" <richard.grigson at 17k8UUMmlDA4wwsAv0pr3uXfLMpqxz65RFUWBn1TrAlnoqOCnRDUDjKDzJ7WsEBXawFxRaitOE3kH4QolhI92ulGwZWnyZv5.yahoo.invalid>
To: "'john'" <john.ketteringham27 at IPlo6qak064V4wn5b4z51SzWoOnlqwRU3Q8J9QmMt8PebBIkVea06_eXhivEkdAYo85cx30JVa2bVW15hXeW8-vuiQiT8g.yahoo.invalid>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 8:50 AM
Subject: RE: St John's Church Hanley

I have no objection to being quoted. Please make sure that you emphasise
that I am the new kid on the block. While nobody would want to start from
the present position there is no point in rehearsing failures of the past.

Yes: the peal boards should also be removed for safe keeping

R

-----Original Message-----
From: john [mailto:john.ketteringham27 at IPlo6qak064V4wn5b4z51SzWoOnlqwRU3Q8J9QmMt8PebBIkVea06_eXhivEkdAYo85cx30JVa2bVW15hXeW8-vuiQiT8g.yahoo.invalid]
Sent: 12 March 2007 17:21
To: Richard Grigson
Subject: Re: St John's Church Hanley


Thank you very much I greatly appreciate this information.   Will the peal
boards also be removed from the tower at the same time as the bells?    Can
I have your permission to  copy your reply to the Bell Historian's email
correspondence list where this matter was first raised, please?   Once again
many thanks for your comprehensive reply.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Grigson" <richard.grigson at 17k8UUMmlDA4wwsAv0pr3uXfLMpqxz65RFUWBn1TrAlnoqOCnRDUDjKDzJ7WsEBXawFxRaitOE3kH4QolhI92ulGwZWnyZv5.yahoo.invalid>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 4:37 PM
Subject: St John's Church Hanley

Dear Mr Ketteringham,

The archdeacon of Stoke has forwarded your email to me. I am the recently
appointed secretary of the redundant churches uses committee, and I am also
responsible for two parishes (one of which has a ring of six bells). I am
not aware
of your previous correspondence with the Bishop of Stafford and therefore
cannot comment on it.

You state your amazement that the bells have not been removed for safe
keeping and reuse. I share some of that amazement. I understand that a
number of schemes have been put
forward over the years for the use of the church building. Each one has
fallen through, for a variety of reasons, and with each failed scheme the
active care of the building has been delayed. Clearly these delays cannot
continue indefinitely.

I am taking active steps to have the bells removed for safe keeping. You
will doubtless be aware, from your links with Lincoln diocese that funds are
fully stretched and we need to seek whatever assistance we can. Any
assistance which can be offered will be gratefully received. I have been
speaking to representatives of the local bell ringers association and the
DAC bells advisor.
We have, within the last month, discussed assistance from the Keltek
trust following a conversation which I have had with Matthew Higby.

On Wednesday this week I have a meeting with a conservation architect from
the City Council regarding the general issues surrounding the building and
the specific issue of listed building consent for removal of the bells.

I trust that this reassures you that we are aware of the situation and the
importance of this ring of ten bells. If I can be of further assistance
please do not hesitate to email or phone me.

Richard Grigson

******************************
Fr Richard Grigson
Vicar of Smallthorne and priest in charge of Brown Edge