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'I want the church bell silenced – in Helpringham'

BBC A man in his 60s sits on a sofa in a living room. He has short grey hair and is wearing a blue woollen jumper. The sofa is covered in a white throw with a pink, blue, purple and grey pattern.BBC
Tony Partridge admits he is being a little mischievous in calling for the ban

It has a name made for bell ringing, but a newcomer to the Lincolnshire village of Helpringham has called for the church chimes to be silenced.

Tony Partridge, 68, said the bell of the clock at St Andrew's Church, which tolls every hour, was keeping him awake at night and was not necessary in the age of phones and watches.

He said: "I couldn't believe how loud it was – I assumed they'd turn it off for the night-time hours and just have it during the day."

However, the Rev Capt Chris Harrington said the automated chimes were part of village life and there was no chance of them being silenced.

A vicar stands in front of a green lawn in the grounds of a village church. He has white hair and is wearing glasses, a blue shirt with white dog collar, a blue pullover, taupe-grey jacket and red scarf.
Mr Harrington says most people like the chimes

Mr Partridge, who recently moved to the area, posted in a Facebook group to ask villagers if they agreed with his stance.

But his argument failed to strike a chord with local people.

One replied: "If you move to the countryside, don't complain about something that has been going on here for centuries."

Another said: "I really hope your post was meant in humour, because I will worry that you may hear the cows mooing or the freight trains running."

Mr Partridge said he was aware he might have come across as a "grouch" and admitted his Facebook post was a little "mischievous".

He added: "Coming from a town, I'm just not used to that sort of thing.

"I'm sure I'll get used to it like everyone else. I don't want to cause trouble."

The frontage of a village church with a tall tower and steeple. It stands in pretty grounds with green lawns, gravestones and trees. The tower includes a clock with a black and gold face.
The Church of St Andrew has been at the heart of village life for centuries

The church was founded in about 1200 and was restored in 1891.

Mr Harrington said: "It's a bit like a grandfather clock in your hallway – it chimes on the hour, 24 hours.

"It's just part of village life. If you've got a lovely church like this, with a lovely clock on it and a bell, it's great.

"I think most people don't really notice it until it stops.

"I'm sorry it's affected somebody – but that's just life."

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