Historic Kinneil Kirk bell to ring again on Armistice Day for first time in living memory

The historic bell will give 11 tolls at 11am on Wednesday, November 11 to mark its return to the daughter church of its original home.

The now ruined stone church at Kinneil dates from the 12th century, although an earlier wooden church is believed to have stood on the site before it.

The eastern gable still stands, clearly showing the double belfry where two bells once hung and rang out over the village and the River Forth.

The kirk came to a dramatic end in 1745, when dragoons stationed there accidentally set fire to the building, destroying the church.

After the fire, the two bells went their separate ways.

One has been lost to history, while the other remained in Bo’ness, apart from a brief visit to Glasgow in 1911 when it was displayed at the Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry.

More recently the surviving bell was on public display in Kinneil Museum. However, earlier this year, following a period of uncertainty for the museum, it was returned to the modern successor of Kinneil Kirk, Bo’ness Parish Church.

The bell’s new home is in the entrance vestibule of the church, where worshippers and visitors can see it each Sunday morning before and after the service.

To mark the bell’s return to Kinneil Kirk's daughter church, the congregation will toll it 11 times at 11am on November 11, for what is believed to be the first time in living memory that the historic bell has been publicly rung.

Diane McCabe, joint Session Clerk at Bo’ness Parish Church, said: “There is something very special about hearing a bell ring again after it has been silent for so long.

"It has been part of the history of Kinneil and Bo’ness for centuries, and ringing it on Armistice Day gives us an opportunity to connect that history with a moment of reflection and remembrance today.”

Later that day, Bo’ness Parish Church will be open from 7pm to 9pm, offering an opportunity for quiet reflection and a closer look at the Kinneil Kirk bell.

Visitors will also be able to see the church's war memorials, commemorative stained-glass windows and a new poppy display. Bo’ness Belles will sing during the evening, while representatives of the Without Fear Trust will share stories from their book accompanied by a visual display.

Tea and coffee will be available. The evening is free and informal, and visitors are welcome to come and go at any time between 7pm and 9pm.