Ardgay community asks Church for return of historic naval bell
A Sutherland community is seeking the return of a historic ship’s bell.
The Church of Scotland is being asked to return the bell, which hangs on an outside wall of the now-redundant Kincardine Church, to the community of Ardgay and district.
The bell, which is above the side door of the church, was gifted in 1778 to the parish of Kincardine by Vice-Admiral Sir John Lockhart-Ross of Balnagowan.
An inscribed plaque beneath the bell states that it was taken from a French warship captured by Sir John in 1775.
Kincardine Church, at Lower Gledfield, Ardgay, was put up for sale by the Church of Scotland last year as part of a major review of its property holdings.
A final service was held in the 115-year-old building on Sunday, October 13. It is understood that the church is under offer with the sale still being negotiated.
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The issue of the bell was raised at a meeting of Ardgay Community Council at Culrain Hall on Thursday, February 20.
Secretary Kerry Hawthorne said the community council had contacted the Church of Scotland’s legal department about the bell but had yet to hear back.
“We have asked for it to be returned to the community and it is suggested that it go back to the heritage centre,” she said. “There is a plaque with the bell.”
It was suggested at the meeting that the bell could be permanently displayed in the centre of Ardgay for all to see and that a joint celebration could be held to mark the 250th anniversary of the bell’s capture and the 50th anniversary this May of Ardgay becoming part of Sutherland.
Later in the meeting, members heard that stones with writing on them that had formed an arch in the old Balnagown Hall had been “unearthed” from storage and that a community meeting was being planned to learn more about their past. One community councillor suggested that the stones could be made into an arch again with the bell hanging from it.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said discussions about the bell were under way.
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He said: “Dornoch Firth Parish Church recognises the bell’s historical significance and its importance to the community.
“The kirk session is fully supportive of it being retained in Ardgay and showcased to the public in a suitable venue.
“Discussions around how this can be achieved are currently under way, but until they are concluded, we are unable to comment further.”
