Automatic clock winder helps St Mary’s Church in Morcott keep time
For more than 100 years volunteers have climbed a church tower's many steps for one purpose.
A clock, added to St Mary’s Church in Morcott in 1921 in memory of those who died during the First World War, needed weekly winding to keep time and chime every quarter of an hour.
But now, thanks to modern technology and grant funding, the clock mechanism in the belfry has been updated so that no more manual winding is needed.
Instead, electricity runs to the tower and powers a motorised winding unit from The Cumbria Clock Company, which specialises in church and public clocks.
Susan Awcock, clerk to Morcott Parish Council, which maintains the clock, said: “The clock movement is not altered - its ticking and beautiful chimes now continue with a helping hand, in memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War, and to keep precious time for the Morcott community.
“St Mary’s Church is in the heart of our village, dates from the 11th Century, and is a Grade I listed architectural gem featuring probably the finest original Norman arches in Rutland. It is possibly also the most complete Norman church in the county.”
Susan added that the community was grateful to volunteers who wound the clock, both past and present, to the Augean Community Fund for a £8,500 grant administered by Grantscape, and £2,610 from the Community Infrastructure Levy - a fund paid into by housing developers for spending on local facilities.
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