Time out for church wonder bells

Bells are thought to have been rung at All Saints as far back as 1714

Church bells, dubbed as one of the seven wonders of Wales, have been causing confusion with their oddly-timed chimes in a Wrexham village.

The electric clock, installed 20 years ago at All Saints Church in Gresford, is running 22 minutes behind time.

An electrical surge is thought to be behind the blip. However, the problem at the 14th Century church tower is expected to be solved soon.

Reverend Canon Tudor Hughes said he had noticed the mis-timing at about 0915 GMT on Monday.

The chimes are supposed to mark every quarter of an hour and the bell strikes on the hour.

Rev Hughes said: "I think there must have been a blip in the power supply.

"We switched to an electric clock 20 years ago and these things happen.

"Somebody needs to climb up the town and put it right," he added.

The bells at All Saints can ring hymn tunes and carols

The tower captain, Hilton Roberts, who looks after the clock and bells, exlained what had happened.

He said: "I was away at the weekend and the bell-ringers attempted to put the clock back an hour. To do this they stopped the clock for an hour.

"When they started the clock, they spun the mechanism in the wrong direction, so the clock ran for 10 minutes in reverse.

"When they realised their mistake, they then spun it in the right direction and by the time it caught up with itself, it was 20 minutes late.

"It will be quite simple (to put right), I will just go into the clock (tower) and advance it to the correct time.

Meanwhile, Rev Hughes said the church will have 12 bells shortly, when four new lighter bells are delivered to the church.

They will be added to the existing heavier bells but only eight will ring together.

The new bells are being cast at the Whitechapel foundry in London, where Big Ben was made and it is hoped they will be working in time for Christmas.

The Gresford bells were named as one of the 'seven wonders of Wales' in an 18th Century rhyme, by an anonymous poet.

The others are Llangollen Bridge, Overton yew trees, Pistyll Rhaeadr, Snowdon, St Winefride's Well and Wrexham Steeple.