When Church Bells Fall Silent, There Is More Than Sound To Lose

Across Britain, church bells have marked the passage of time for centuries. They’ve celebrated weddings, mourned losses, welcomed festivals, and brought communities together. In the Devon town of Bovey Tracey, one dedicated bell-ringer is determined to ensure that tradition continues for generations to come.

Mike Wigney’s story is one of resilience, determination, and unwavering passion.

After suffering a life-changing spinal injury in a climbing accident more than two decades ago, many people would have expected Mike to leave his hobbies behind. Instead, he found strength through bell-ringing. From his wheelchair, he has visited more than 2,800 bell towers across the UK, including many of England’s historic cathedrals, proving that physical challenges need not define what someone can achieve.

Getting to the ringing chamber is rarely straightforward.

Many historic church towers were built centuries before accessibility was considered. Narrow spiral staircases, steep ladders, and small trap doors present significant obstacles. Yet with determination—and the support of fellow ringers—Mike continues to reach the ropes. His wheelchair is dismantled and carried upstairs, while friends help him navigate spaces that were never designed with accessibility in mind.

His story highlights the importance of inclusion, showing how communities can overcome barriers through teamwork rather than allowing those barriers to exclude people.

Today, however, Mike faces a different challenge.

The bells of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Bovey Tracey have rung for around 500 years, but their future is uncertain. The steel supports that help hold the bells are deteriorating after years of exposure to Devon’s damp climate. As the metal corrodes, it expands, placing pressure on the surrounding stonework and threatening the tower itself.

The bells remain in good condition, but the supporting structure urgently requires repair.

The local church is now working to raise £120,000 to replace the ageing steelwork and secure the future of the tower. Without the necessary funding, there is a real possibility that the bells could eventually fall silent.

What makes this story particularly inspiring is that the problem isn’t a lack of volunteers.

Many churches across the country struggle to recruit bell-ringers, but Bovey Tracey has built a thriving community that includes experienced adults and enthusiastic children still in primary school. Mike also dedicates his time to training the next generation, ensuring that the centuries-old tradition continues beyond his own lifetime.

His commitment extends beyond preserving an instrument—it is about protecting a shared piece of local heritage.

Church bells are more than historic artefacts. They represent continuity, craftsmanship, music, and community spirit. Once silent, these traditions can be incredibly difficult to restore.

Mike Wigney’s journey reminds us that preserving heritage isn’t only about maintaining old buildings. It’s about supporting the people who keep those traditions alive, passing skills from one generation to the next, and ensuring that history remains something we experience—not just something we read about.

If the campaign succeeds, the people of Bovey Tracey won’t simply save a bell tower.

They’ll help ensure that the sound which has echoed across their town for five centuries continues to ring for the next five hundred years.