A GRADE I listed church has been awarded thousands of pounds to restore its historic bells.

Piddinghoe’s 900-year-old church, St John’s has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, it has been announced.

The Parochial Church Council at Piddinghoe successfully applied for the £34,000 grant to support the exciting revival of church bell ringing in its small East Sussex village.

Three bells, dating from the 18th century, will be repaired and refurbished while three more will be added. The six bells will be rung “full circle” – creating the tuneful ringing familiar across the UK.

The £83,500 project, led by a team of four villagers and with additional funding and expertise provided by a local businessman, is designed to build engagement with the church and its bells and will target young people in neighbouring Newhaven.

Once planning permission is granted by the Church of England, it is hoped that the project will start in September 2022 and be completed within eighteen months.