BELLS FINALLY RING OUT! 150-Year Wait Ends in Easter Celebration
By Community Correspondent
After more than a century of silence, the bells of St Mary’s Church in Betws-y-Coed are finally ready to ring loud and proud this Easter.
The historic church will hear its full set of bells for the very first time during a special Easter Sunday service — ending a wait of over 150 years.
Although the church was originally designed to house a complete ring of bells, the plan was never finished… until now.
In a remarkable twist of fate, eight bells were rescued from St John’s Church after it closed in 2024, creating a powerful link between the two communities. A ninth bell, dating all the way back to 1873, has also been restored and returned to its rightful place.
The £100,000 project — years in the making — has transformed the village tower, with locals pulling together to make it happen. The idea was first sparked back in 2019 during a chat at a local festival, when bell ringers realised they had no tower to call home.
Now, thanks to determination, fundraising and community spirit, that dream has become reality.
The bells will make their grand debut before an Easter family service — complete with a blessing of lambs — before ringing out across the village in celebration.
Even more incredible, old newspapers from 1874 were discovered hidden in the tower during the work, offering a haunting link to the past.
And in a touching tribute, the bells have been dedicated to eight local people — with some set to hear the peal in person this Easter.
From silence to celebration, it’s a moment generations have been waiting for.
