The historic bells of Tong village, which remained silent since the 1960s until this year, have been re-dedicated by the Bishop of Bradford.

The Right Reverend Nick Baines conducted the re-dedication service at St James’s Church, in Tong village, yesterday, after they rung out for the first time again this year following a £63,000 restoration programme.

Louise Connacher, who has been a bell-ringer since she was 16, co-ordinated the project, which also focused on learning about the history of the bells and bellringers.

She said she pleased the Bishop had come to carry out the service.

She said: “It’s absolutely wonderful – this has been a project that has been going on for many years.

“The bells were re-hung in February and the bishop is a very busy man, so it’s taken a while to get a slot in his diary.”

The Right Reverend Baines also carried out a confirmation service yesterday at the church.

The six bells were removed from the tower at the church last September before being taken to John Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough.

They have since been cleaned, tuned and restored by the bell founders, before they were returned to the church in February this year.

The new Tong History Group quickly attracted a number of members, including one man whose grandfather was a member of the bellringing competition team during the 19th century. Mrs Connacher said: “They came back to the church in February and the first time we rung them was February 17 this year.

“It seems to be going really well.

“I live in the village and people are always stopping me in the street and saying how much they enjoy hearing the bells.”

Mrs Connacher is part of a team which rings the bells every Sunday, as well as practice sessions on Monday evening.

She said: “We taught some people to ring here as well so we are building up a band so there’s enough people to ring them for services and weddings.”