Mearns Kirk

It was a perfectly normal Sunday morning in August. At 10.00am Stephen Maguire was – as usual – ringing the kirk bell to summon the good folk of Mearns Kirk to worship. However, as he pulled hard on the rope, he heard a loud crashing noise above his head and he let go of the rope and made his escape from the bell tower
– fortunately unscathed.

Nothing lasts for ever, and the bell mechanism (basically a large metal wheel) had decided that after 212 years it was time to call it a day. Even Stephen’s expert campanology was no match for over two centuries of corrosion.

In order to make the bell tower safe, we have obtained a quotation from a reputable firm of specialist contractors for the removal of the bell mechanism and the bell itself, involving erecting scaffolding, removing some louvres from the bell tower, raising the bell and damaged mechanism up through the louvre apertures, and removing them from the bell tower. This would be a major operation and would not be cheap.

The bell tower has also recently been inspected by Glasgow Presbytery’s Buildings Officer, and a report is awaited before any decision is made on what steps are to be taken. The broken mechanism would be removed from site, but the bell itself could conceivably be retained for future use or display.

Unfortunately, it seems that we may be unlikely to hear the bell again – at least not high up in the bell tower. It has been a feature of the local community for over 200 years, and it would be sad to see it lost for ever. Perhaps it could be re-established at a lower level in the bell tower, or perhaps some form of electronic bell could take its place. However, in the short term of course there is the issue of raising funds to pay for the removal of the collapsed mechanism. These issues are currently under consideration. Watch this space