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Sponsoring a bell is an excellent way of providing a long lasting memorial to a loved one or commemorating a particular event. By endowing a bell, an inscription can be cast into that bell commemorating the donor, a family member, a company or organisation. In this manner a bell can provide a living memorial for hundreds of years as it sounds out over Writtle and will provide an historical snapshot of the church and village at this memorable time.

So far ten of the bells have been sponsored, eight by individuals and families from the village, one by the bellringers and one by the Essex Association of Change Ringers.

The two bells that have not yet been sponsored are the bigger, and consequently more expensive, ones. Joint Sponsorship, as a way of reducing the cost to the individual, is a possibility that people may wish to consider. Another possibility is sponsoring the component parts of a bell mechanism. The table below gives some details of the bells, including the basic and the installed price (which includes all the fixtures and fittings (wheels, headstocks, etc), and component parts currently available for sponsorship.

Individuals or businesses may like to sponsor a fundraising event (e.g. £150 pays for hire of the Christian Centre), or the barn dance band, refreshments, printing costs of leaflets, providing ‘promises’ for the auction of promises or raffle prizes, or a Quarter Peal (45 minutes of continuous ringing) to mark a special occasion. Alternatively, £150 buys a Rope; £100 buys a Pulley; £30 buys a Slider; and £20 buys a Stay. Perhaps you know someone who would like to purchase an old bell wheel (possible uses: as a table (with additional glass top) or for display in a pub or restaurant) or part of the old bellframe (for turning or woodwork). All offers considered. Please ask for details.

Buy a kilogram of bell metal for £10 [now closed]

The Eleventh Bell weighs in the region of 11,300 kilograms and costs about £11,300. We therefore need 1,130 people to donate £10 each to buy a kilogram of bell metal. A donation could provide a long lasting memorial to a loved one. It could be used as a gift for a new born child, on a child's baptism, as a wedding gift or to commemorate a special event. Whatever the reason, we will provide a suitable certificate to mark the donation and occasion, and all the names of the donors will appear on a special plaque in the church.

How does it work? A grid has been drawn on a bell and donors select a letter between A and Z and a number between 1 and 43, for example you pay £10 and select G32. Its rather like playing battleships, and you might even score a hit as one of the squares has been selected for a special prize! You could, for example, select your initial and your age or your house number. That then becomes your square and no-one else can buy it.

Every gift, whatever its size, helps us towards our target of £130,000. There are many ways you can help and various options are shown below to help you decide which way of giving is best for you. If you are a taxpayer you can increase the value of your donation at no cost to you by completing a Gift Aid Declaration form (attached).

• Lump-sum gifts. You can make a lump-sum donation, or a series of donations. There is no minimum amount.

• Regular giving. Donors anywhere can give regularly by banker's standing order (attached). A regular monthly contribution soon adds up to a substantial donation.

• Covenants. A deed of covenant is a legal document whereby a donor agrees to make regular payments out of taxed income for a period of four years or more.

If a sufficient number of people take out a covenant, then we may be able to raise a low interest loan against these covenants, sufficient to cover the current short fall and hence enable us to place the order for the bells soon. Our current shortfall is £44,000 so just 36 people covenanting £20 per month for four years would be sufficient or 72 people at just £10 per month, for example. A covenant form is attached for your use.

The Committee has appealed to various sources for grants for this massive undertaking. However, it is felt that all who love Writtle bells, the church and the village may appreciate a unique opportunity to become part of the history, which the casting of a bell presents.

The names of those in memoriam will be included on a plaque to be situated in the church. All donations received for this project will be recorded in a book, which will be kept in the church.

• We need ideas for fundraising events that keep the Appeal in the public eye.

• We need people to help organise and run events and help on the day itself - prepare the venue; organise the raffle; catering and washing-up.

• How about a organising a sponsored parachute jump, long distance cycle ride, or run in the London Marathon.

• We also need donations in kind - from items to sell, such as cakes, transport to take the bells to the foundry and return them to the church; general assistance to the bellhangers; to local businesses donating materials for the necessary building work.

Project Management and Fundraising

The project is being managed by a small team of dedicated people, who meet on a regular basis. The members are:

Phil Stephens, Chair and Tower Captain
Andrew Brewster, Immediate Past Master of the South Eastern District of the Essex Association, Deputy Tower Captain and Deputy Treasurer
Christina Fleckney, Treasurer
Roger Bailey, Steeplekeeper
David Simms, Public Relations

The Tower is fortunate in having expertise to call upon, both amongst the ringers and the church.  In addition, the team have called upon expertise provided by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.