For over 150 years the church clock at St Edmund’s Church, Crickhowell has kept the time for the residents and visitors to the town, although in recent years the chimes have been out of action.

To keep the clock running, each week someone has to climb the 33 steps and the three ladders inside the tower and crank a shaft to lift the drive weight by hand.

This task has been undertaken faithfully by designated members of the congregation, currently Eric Godding and Allan Foster and previously by Bob Candy who died earlier this year.

Recently the Parochial Church Council reviewed the health and safety aspects of the procedure.

“When the church clock was installed, little thought was given to the safety aspect of climbing ladders inside the tower in semi-darkness.” said churchwarden, Mrs Brenda Gooding. “However we no longer feel that this is a reasonable thing to ask anyone to undertake on a weekly basis. An alternative electrical winding system can be installed and this could be operated automatically without risking life and limb.”

Once in place, the winder will enable the chiming mechanism to be restored and the hours and half-hours would once again be struck during the day. None of this can be achieved without raising additional finance amounting to over £4,000.

The fund for installing the new winder mechanism will be launched on the weekend of November 20th - 22nd, when St Edmund’s Day will be celebrated with a special Gift Day for the repair work.

The church will be open on the afternoon of Friday 20th, the anniversary day, for quiet reflection and prayer. On the Gift Day, Saturday 21st November, the church will welcome local people and visitors between 10am and 4pm. There will be an opportunity to learn more about the clock and the proposals for its future use as a community facility and another chance to have a conducted tour of the church interior and to enjoy the refreshments provided by members of the congregations.

Anyone would like further information, or to contribute, can contact churchwarden Brenda Gooding on 01873 812113 or by e-mail at [email protected]