Published on: 13/04/2026
Church Bells are ringing for the first time in four years at St John’s Mexborough as they celebrate reaching a significant milestone to preserve the Grade 1 Listed Church, thanks to successful bids to grant awarding bodies and the hard work and generosity of the congregation.
The £100,000 fundraising target for Phases 1 and 2 of Restoration 2030 has been met. This has resulted in the repair of the ancient timbers in the Belfry. Due to their deterioration, it was no longer safe to ring the bells and as a consequence they have been silent for four years. However, on Easter Sunday Mexborough folk heard the sound of church bells ringing once more.
Grant awards from The Benefact Trust, Fellowship of St John, Number 1 Trust, Church Commissioners and the Diocese of Sheffield have also contributed towards the costs of Phase 2, which will start this summer with the repointing of the spire and tower. Restoration 2030 aims to raise the church’s profile as a place of great historical value to the town through annual heritage events and a home for local history. We hope this will increase outreach and in turn visitor numbers.
St John’s is not only the oldest building in Mexborough by several hundred years, but it’s the only Grade 1 listed building in the town. Restoration 2030 is a four-phase project with renovations to install a toilet, kitchen and improved disabled access taking place in Phases 3 and 4. The project aims for completion by the end of 2030 and will be a beacon of Mexborough’s heritage.
The parish priest, Fr Edward Morrison, said: “I am thrilled that we have reached this first landmark in our restoration project. The sound of these ancient bells ringing out across the town delighted local residents and has inspired all of us to continue the hard work of restoring St John’s to its former glory and making it fit to serve the needs of our town.”
