Category Archives: West Yorkshire

Barnoldswick, St Mary le Ghyll

The parish church of Saint Mary le Ghyll. 6 bells; 630 kg in Ab.

The Bells

The church of St Mary le Ghyll is situated close to the Lancashire & Yorkshire border. It has a pleasant sounding ring of six bells in the key of A flat. The second, third and fourth were cast in 1723 by Abraham II Rudhall with the treble cast in 1870 by John Taylor & Co. and the fifth and cast is 2007 and the sixth cast in 2009 by Taylors, Eayre & Smith. There are almost no neighbours which make the tower popular with peal bands.

Getting There

Heptonstall, St Thomas the Apostle

Saint Thomas the Apostle, Heptonstall. 8 bells; 18-1-3 in E. 1929 by John Taylor & Co.

The Bells

The Church of St Thomas the Apostle in Heptonstall posses an excellent ring of eight bells. The bells were cast in 1912 by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough. The tenor bell weighs 929 kg and the ring is in the key of E.

I rang my 1,000th peal (5,040 changes of Ruby Alliance Major) here on Monday, October 29 2018.

I rang my 800th peal (5,012 changes of Ambleside Alliance Major) for the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers here on Friday, August 5 2022.

Getting There

Peal 1,000

My first peal was in November 1976 and my 1,000th peal was in October 2018. My thanks to everyone who helped me reach my 1,000th peal. It has been my ambition since the early 1980s.

Peal 1

Kent County Association
Minster (Sheppey), Kent
St Mary and St Sexburga
Friday, 4th November 1976 in 3h 04 (10–2–0 in G)
5,760 Plain Bob Minor
1 x 2,160 and 5 x 720 each called differently

  1. Christopher I Pearson
  2. Julie A Gardner
  3. Neil K Moring
  4. Howard Gardner
  5. Raymond A Hutchings
  6. Phillip R J Barnes (C)

First peal: 1, 2, 3 and 5
Longest length: 4 & 6
First peal as conductor: 6

Peal 1,000

Lancashire Association
Heptonstall, West Yorkshire
St Thomas the Apostle
Monday, 29 October 2018 in 3h 2 (18–1–3)
5,040 Ruby Alliance Major
Composed by Ian Butters (no 737)

  1. Lee Pinnington
  2. D Robert Pettifor
  3. Pauline Campling
  4. James E Andrews
  5. Andrew J Rawlinson
  6. Raymond A Hutchings
  7. Derek J Thomas
  8. George H Campling (C)

1,000th peal: 6

Rung to celebrate George and Pauline’s 40th Wedding Anniversary

Todmorden, St Mary

The Church of Saint Mary, Todmorden.

Although Saint Mary’s in Todmorden is the oldest church in the town, it also has the distinction of being the newest church.  The original Church was built in the 17th Century,  but was then significantly modernised in the late 20th century.

Saint Mary’s is fortunate to have a a well-toned light ring of 8 bells with the front seven bells cast in 1989 by John Taylor and Co. LTD of Leicester.

About The Bells

Dedication: Saint Mary
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 6-1-18 (326 kg) in C – A ground floor ring
Cast: Bells 1 – 7 1989 by John Taylor and Co. Bell 8 1897 by John Taylor and Co.
Association: Lancashire Association / Rochdale Branch
Practice Night: Friday 8 pm to 9.15 pm (not the 5th Friday)
Sunday Ringing: Not Known. There is a 10.30 am service
Address: OL14 7BD (Google Maps)

Visiting The Church

There is parking on nearby streets and there are several small car parks in the town centre (many of which offer free parking).