Members of the St Mary’s Church community together with villagers and pupils from All Saints Church School, which has close links with St Catherine’s, gathered in the sunshine to watch the return of the historic church clock. The church’s much-loved clock has been undergoing specialist restoration since its removal in March. There were cheers from the crowd as the newly restored and painted dial was hoist into place on the church tower. 93-year-old Humphrey Hamlin, a local retired engineer, who has cared for the clock for many years and restored it himself in 1987, had the honour of putting the hands back on. As he did so, a huge cheer went up from the crowd.
Overhauling, and strengthening the clock’s mechanism was undertaken by specialists Timsbury Clocks. Restorer, Symon Boyd, repainted the clock dial and hands to their traditional colours of blue and gold and re-gilded them. He re-installed the inner workings of the clock inside the church tower and was on hand to replace the dial.
Hidden behind the clock face is a time capsule. The capsule, the idea of one of the fathers from the school, contained photos of people that have wound the clock over the years, letters from children at the school outlining what they think the village may look in 50 years’ time. A palm cross, letters from churchwardens, Nic and Elaine, an order of service, a prayer for church growth and a school newsletter were also put in.
The local media had also come to see the clock hoisted back into the church tower so they could share this wonderful story with others in Somerset.
Originally thought to have been constructed in the 1600s, new research led by Mark Lidster, Buildings Adviser for the Diocese of Bath and Wells and Clocks Adviser to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches, confirmed the clock’s mechanism is significantly older than first believed and was probably originally constructed in the early 1400s. Mark was on hand to see the clock returned to St Catherine's and to clean some of the lichen tfrom the church tower.
A rededication service, scheduled for Sunday 10 August, will not only mark the return of the clock to its rightful place in the church tower, but will also celebrate its extraordinary legacy. Michael Beasley, the Bishop of Bath and Wells will preside at the service. There will also be a village festival with hog roast, Morris dancing, bands and a choir.
Meanwhile, development of a special exhibition space inside St Catherine’s is well underway. The clock room located 15 meters up the church tower has been fitted with new lighting and cameras to showcase the inner workings of the historic clock. Inside the church, newly installed audio-visual displays will help tell the clock’s story, including fascinating details about its recent restoration. Among the highlights will be a set of large iron church door keys believed to date back to the Reformation, which were once used by villagers who wound the clock each day.
Photo credit: GRACE Productions
Nic Laycock, Churchwarden at St Catherine’s Church, Montacute shares his personal reflection about the journey to restore this very special clock.