The church has joined up with the leading society of bellringers in the City, the Ancient Society of College Youths (ASCY), to see bells return to this once famous bell tower. Twelve new bells are to be cast - equal in number to those at St Paul’s Cathedral and St Mary-le-Bow. To ensure that these bells ring for many generations of Londoners to come, they will be hung in a new iron and steel frame and will be rung from the same room that ringers have used in many previous centuries.

To achieve these objectives, the following work needs to be undertaken:

·         Cast 12 new bells using the latest technology in tuning;

·         Provide all bells with new fittings (such as wheels, clappers and bearings) to make them ring easily;

·         Install a new rigid iron and steel frame to accommodate the 12 bells;

·         Complete all necessary building and electrical work in the tower;

·         Install variable sound control in the belfry openings, ensuring that the bells do not form a nuisance during working hours, yet can be heard when ringing for worship at other times;

·         Repair the existing clock bell and enable it to strike the hours for the first time in decades, as well as strike the matins, sanctus, angelus and curfew;;

·         Conserve the ancient 18th century 'peal boards' on the wall of the ringing room.

To get an idea of what these bells might sound like, listen to a recording of the bells of St Peter's, Croydon here. These bells are in the same key as the proposed ring at St Magnus (D major). The largest bell of the proposed ring will weigh approximately 1¼ tons.

Read on to learn why we need your help.