Thank you to the over 45 people and families who kindly responded so positively to the article in the September Broadsheet regarding the church clock and its chimes.

We have been overwhelmed that people feel so strongly that the chimes should ring out day and night for reasons of village heritage, comfort and continuity as well as the practicality of hearing the time. We didn’t receive any responses in support of the clock being silenced at night.

However, we have heard through other means from a few people who have had their sleep disturbed by the clock chime during the night, especially during the hot summer this year when windows were open overnight. We appreciate that this will have been frustrating and have caused difficulty sleeping.

At the time of writing, the clock still requires a permanent repair. The situation is still uncertain as we await news on the level of “noise” from measurements taken by Cherwell Council’s Environmental Health Department. Unfortunately, church clock chimes come under the category in law of a statutory nuisance whereby just one complaint to the council could result in the church being ordered to silence the chime at night or face legal action or a possible fine.

As a result of the article, we have had a wonderfully kind and generous offer of financial help towards the cost of repairing the clock mechanism and re-gilding of the clock faces. We are currently exploring the options and costs involved in both pieces of work.

There will be a further update when we have any news.

Pat Lapworth, Churchwarden.