IT was standing room only at a joyous celebration to officially bless the peal of 13 new bells at Kidderminster's St Mary and All Saints' Church.the rector of St Mary and All Saints' Church, Canon Owain Bell, and the bishop of Worcester, Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby at the dedication of the bells.

The new bells - expected to last 1,000 years - rang out loud and proud during the dedication event led by the Bishop of Worcester, Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby.

"It was a wonderfully joyous day, bringing the project to a fitting climax," said the aptly named rector, Canon Owain Bell.

The church launched Ring for the Future in summer, 2002, with a target of raising £125,000 to pay for new bells to replace the ageing and hole-strewn set. The final cost was closer to £150,000.the Bishop of Worcester dedicates the bells, watched by bell-ringers from St Mary and All Saints' Church.

At Sunday's dedication, a special video link to a huge screen ensured the whole congregation could watch the Bishop officially bless the bells and the bell-ringers in the tower.

Following the dedication, the bells rang out for five minutes, triggering spontaneous applause from the audience.tower captain Helen Priest tries out one of the new bells.

Chris Stuart, former bell-tower captain and the appeal's "inspiration", led prayers during the event and was later presented with a bell-metal plaque to mark his efforts. The choir of Sladen Middle School, whose fund-raising helped pay for one of the bells, sang apt songs including "If I Had A Hammer".

The church's usual congregation was swelled by appeal supporters, civic leaders, prominent townsfolk and key donors.

Canon Bell added: "It was a real team effort to raise the money for the bells. It was particularly wonderful to see church and community of all ages side by side on Sunday to mark the end of the project.

"We now have bells worthy of our bell-ringers."

The peal of 13 bells, including a Flat Sixth semitone bell, have been hung in a new two-tier cast iron frame built on a rolled steel foundation. The tower acoustics and access to the bell and ringing chambers have been improved, bringing the total cost of the purchase and works to just under £150,000.

Each bell carries an inscription highlighting the efforts of key fund-raisers and donors and all have been named.

Canon Bell added: "We decided to name each bell after a prominent woman of the faith - in the Bible many of their voices are rather muted but this ensures they can ring out."