HISTORIC bells from a listed 19th century church could be moved to a new home if plans are approved.

The eight bells at the former St Saviour’s Church in New Line, Bacup, which were installed in 1887, have been out of action since the church closed in December 2007.

They could be relocated to the parish church of Greyfriars, Dumfries, Scotland, if the proposals by The Manchester Diocese are given the go-ahead by Rossendale Council planners.

The Church Commissioners, the body responsible for managing the historic property assets of the Church of England, said no one has come forward to use the church, which dates back to 1864-1865, for Christian worship since its closure, meaning there is ‘no requirement’ to retain the bells.

Norman Bilsborough, of the Church Commissioners, said relocating the church bells is felt to be necessary in order to safeguard them from ‘irreparable damage’.

He said: “An extended period of marketing has produced a number of interesting and potentially suitable future uses for the property, which are under consideration by the Church Commissioners.

“However, none of these would involve the use of the building for Christian worship and consequently there would no requirement to retain the bells in situ.

He said that despite ‘extensive security measures’ to protect the building, it remains under threat due to vandalism and arson, with two fires taking place in the last year.

Firefighters said the church had been left in a ‘dangerous state’ following a suspected arson attack in July last year, with concerns raised about the safety of the balcony.

Mr Bilsborough said: “It is standard practice of the Church Commissioners, wherever possible, to relocate furnishings and fittings from closed churches to other parish churches where they can continue in ecclesiastical use.

“In the case of St Saviour’s, it is proposed that the eight bells should be relocated to the parish church of Greyfriars, Dumfries.

“The bells date from 1887 and were cast by Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel.

“The actual work of relocation will be supervised by the Keltek Trust, a charity which specialises in the re-use of church bells.”

The church has been the subject of previous planning applications, which include proposals to convert it into eight apartments in 2010, but the bid never materialised.