{"id":19643,"date":"2023-11-27T11:46:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T16:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=19643"},"modified":"2023-11-27T11:46:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T16:46:22","slug":"church-bells-that-have-rung-for-200-years-silenced-after-single-noise-complaint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2023\/11\/church-bells-that-have-rung-for-200-years-silenced-after-single-noise-complaint","title":{"rendered":"Church Bells That Have Rung For 200 Years Silenced After Single Noise Complaint"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A council has recently silenced a church bell that sounded every hour for over 200 years after one noise complaint. Beith Parish Church in Ayrshire, Scotland, won\u2019t sound around the clock anymore, as one resident said their sleep was disturbed. Now, The Church of Scotland has stopped the bell between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.<\/p>\n

The resident, who had recently moved to the town, contacted session clerk Gordon Isbister, urging the church to silence the bell as he and his wife were unable to sleep because of the hourly chimes. Some church elders suggested the couple should \u2018put earplugs in\u2019 to muffle the noise, but others felt it was not an unreasonable request.<\/p>\n

However, over 900 people have signed a petition to restore the chimes to 24 hours as they say the bells represent Beith\u2019s \u201chistory and heritage.\u201d Bryan McWilliams, who\u2019s lived next to the church for 24 years, started the petition as he thinks the tradition is \u201cingrained in our community for generations.\u201d North Ayrshire Council asked the Church of Scotland to consider silencing the bell overnight after the noise complaint.<\/p>\n

The church\u2019s Kirk Session said members were \u201cempathetic\u201d and recognized it could be disturbing for some people. A spokesperson said, \u201cThe Kirk Session took Environmental Health\u2019s suggestion on board, embracing the Bible teaching of love thy neighbor as thyself.\u201d However, in speaking to the BBC, Mr. McWilliams said, \u201cThe chiming clock is more than just a timekeeper. It serves as an audible connection to our history and heritage and has been chiming for 200 years.\u201d<\/p>\n