The community of New Tredegar pulled together to collect donations for a new bell for St Dingat’s Church in time for Remembrance Day.
The church had been without a bell for the last year after it was stolen during renovation last year.
Rev Leah Philbrick said: “The church is open again looking beauty and now it is ringing again. Scaffolding to hang the bell was donated by David Evans a contractor in Aberbargoed, Aber Wrought Iron fabricated the mechanism to hang the bell, and Packham Engineering were on hand on the day to help enable the bell to be hung.
“Countless people from the community made financial contributions to enable us to purchase the bell and get New Tredegar ringing again. We are so thankful.”
The community gathered for a Remembrance commemoration at the cenotaph in Tirphil and then walked down to the cenotaph in New Tredegar for 10.50am for an act of remembrance and the two-minute silence at 11am. St Dingat’s then held a service of Holy Communion.
Rev Philbrick added: “There were a number of active service members with connections to the New Tredegar who joined us for the day and laid wreaths for their regiments, reminding us more profoundly of the commitment, service and sacrifice of those who are serving our country.
“After the service of Holy Communion we were ready at 12.30pm to get New Tredegar ringing again with churches across the nation, with John Price, the verger at St Dingat’s for the last 58 years being the first to ring the bell.”