Stitch in time for church clock

Parishioners had complained the clock was wrong

A church verger in the West Midlands is appealing for women to donate their knicker elastic to keep the church clock going.

The clock, in the tower of All Saints Church, West Bromwich, stopped last week.

The verger, David Lord, said the clock's workings relied on a piece of string and a piece of elastic.

He made an appeal in the church's parish magazine for new knicker elastic to replace the present piece which has reached the end of its life.

Slightly used elastic would be acceptable with the said garments removed

David Lord

David Lord decided to tackle the problem after a number of complaints from parishioners about the church clock showing the wrong time.

He said: "The workings of the clock rely on a length of string and a length of knicker elastic.

"They trigger a mercury switch and bring the counter balance to its full height which then slowly falls to allow the mechanical clock to carry on working.

"The knicker elastic then brings the balance to its full height again every 12 hours."

The church was rebuilt in 1872

Mr Lord said: "Sadly, the elastic has reached the end of its life and I am now appealing for a donation from the ladies of the congregation for knicker elastic.

"Slightly used elastic would be acceptable with the said garments removed."

Mr Lord has been the verger at the church for four years.

The current piece of elastic has not had to be replaced during this time.

He said he hoped the congregation would take the appeal in the humour it was intended.

The church was re-built in 1872 and the workings of the clock have been updated several times since then.

Mr Lord has offered a tour of the clock tower to any women who are able to help with the request.