The church's 172-year-old clock and bell have been fixed after decades of not working properly.

"No one that we've talked to thus far can remember how long it's been since it worked," senior minister Nigel Fortescue said.

"We needed to import a new automatic winder from the UK because we believe the clock is actually the oldest colonial clock in Australia, according to the master clock maker who repaired it."

Mr Fortescue said that when he first started work at the church he was told that the clock bell would only ring if wound, and that this could be dangerous to do.

The clock and bell were installed in August 1839, 10 months after the death of the church's former rector Thomas Reddall.

Mr Reddall had pushed for the clock and bell since 1824.