The church of Saint Thomas with Saint Jude stands on Accrington Road on the north east side of the Lancashire town of Blackburn. The church has a detached tower with a light ring of eight bells, rung from the ground floor, installed in 2015.
The original church of Saint Jude was consecrated in 1914, but was demolished in the 1990s as the congregation dwindled. Today only the original tower survives. The church building was replaced by a combined church and community centre which stands there today.
A set of eight bells cast by Gillet and Johnston were installed as a chime in 1932 and were capable of playing 72 hymn tunes. Four of the original bells have been retained as the 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the current ring. The original front four bells have gone to the Malta Maritime Museum.
About The Bells
Dedication: Saint Thomas with Saint Jude Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 6-0-24 (316 kg) in D flat Association: Lancashire Association / Blackburn Branch Practice Night: Wednesday 7.30pm to 9pm Sunday Ringing: Second Sunday of the month from 11.15am to 12.00pm Address: Junction of Didsbury Street and Accrington Road, Blackburn. BB1 2AB
Visiting The Tower
The church welcomes visitors, quarter peals and peals being rung on the bells. There is a flat fee for quarter peals of £2 a rope (score or not) and for a peal attempt £5 a rope (score or not).
How To Find The Church
The Church is located on the corner of Didsbury Street and Accrington Road. There is abundant free parking in the area. Parking in Didsbury Street is popular.
The west tower of Blackburn Cathedral holds a well-toned peal of ten bells cast in 1949 by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough. The tenor bell weighs 25 – 1 – 14 (just under 1.3 metric tonne) and the peal is tuned to the key of D major.
There have been bells on the site since at least 1552. It is documented that the Vicar and church wardens paid the sum of £26 12 shillings and 1 penny to the Royal Commission for the purchase of five bells for the old parish church of St Mary. Those bells were in use until circa 1690. In 1737 the metal from the five bells was melted down and used to make a ring of six bells. In 1832 those six bells were moved from the old parish church, demolished circa 1820, into the tower of the new Parish Church, designed by John Palmer and consecrated in 1826. Four extra bells were added around 1852 to make a ring of ten with the tenor weighing 15 cwt.
The Parish Church was raised to a Cathedral in 1926, when the Dioceses of Blackburn was created. In 1949 the ten bells were melted down and the metal, with added metal, was used to make the current ring of ten bells which are still in use today.
About The Bells
Dedication: Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin Bells: 10 bells. Tenor 25-1-14 (1.3 tonne) in D Association: Lancashire Association / Blackburn Branch Practice Night: Thursday 8pm to 9.30pm Sunday Ringing: 09.50am to 10.30am Address: Darwen Street, Blackburn. BB1 5AA
The Dean and Chapter encourage peals being rung on the bells and we always welcome enquiries. There is no fee for quarter peals and for a peal attempt there is a standard fee of £5 a rope. If you would like to book the bells then please let us know.
Most peals are rung on a Wednesday evening (with a 6pm start) and Sunday afternoons finishing with the bells rung down for the 4pm service.
How To Find The Cathedral
Recent changes (November 2015) in the one way system at the top end of Mincing Lane now require cars to turn left into King Street and then immediately right (Barton Street) and right again (Cardwell Place) to access Darwen Street via Astley Gate. If you are approaching from the west, Bank Top, then it is best to follow the road into Blackburn and carry straight on, when the roads turns right, into King Street. At the end of the one way section of King Street turn left into Barton Street and right into Cardwell Place to access Darwen Street via Astley Gate.
When visiting the Cathedral the best places to park are:
on Darwen Street (pay and display) there are various bays in Darwen Street just down from the Market Street Lane junction and all the way down. Outside BBC Radio Lancashire is popular, but there are only a few spaces.
Saint Peter Street or Mill Lane (both pay and display)
During the week and a weekends there is a pay and display car park next to Fleming Square with the entrance at the top end of Mincing Lane. This car park charges £3 for 5 hours parking and it very close to the Cathedral.
I understand it is also possible to park at Morrisons for a small charge.
Since building work commenced in 2014 there is very limited parking available in the Cathedral grounds. You are politely requested not to park on the flags outside the west entrance.
For parking in the town centre I recommend the Visit Blackburn website. This provides details or car parks. There is a good quantity of on street parking available in Darwen Street and Saint Peter’s Street. Please check carefully as parking changes almost as often as the one way systems.
More About The Bells
The current bells were cast by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough and were installed in 1949. More details are shown below.
Bell
Weight
Diameter
Note
Inscription
1
4-3-22
2' 3"
F#
In memory of W. E. Wilson, Ringer and Belfry Master 1887 - 1943. Also Edward Wilson 1933 - 1946. T. Wilson, Captain
2
5-1-16
2' 4 ½"
E
Vivos voco, mortuos plango, fulgura frango (I call the living, I mourn the dead, I overpower the thunder)
3
5-3-8
2' 6"
D
Laudo Deum, plebum voco, congrego clerum, defunctos ploro, pestem fugo, festa decoro (I praise God, I call the people, I assemble the clergy, I lament the departed, I drive away the plague, I proclaim the feasts)
4
6-1-12
2' 7"
C#
Funera plango, fulgura frango, Sabbata pango (I tell funerals, I subdue the thunder, I declare the Sabbath)
5
7-0-25
2' 9"
B
Excito lentos, dissipo ventos, paco cruentos (I hasten the tardy, I scatter the winds, I pacify the angry)
6
8-1-6
2' 11"
A
Nomen Jesu Christie, tu attendas er defendas (O name of Jesus Christ, turn Thou and succor us)
7
10-1-7
3' 2 ½"
G
Te laudamus et rogamus; nos a morte tristi (We praise thee and we pray; deliver us from sad death). 1949
8
12-1-22
3' 5"
F#
This belfry was restored and the clock, with chimes, renewed in 1949. T. Stirrup, J. W. Wilson, J. L. Heppard, V. J. Abbott, Churchwardens.
9
17-2-23
3' 10"
E
In memory of those of this congregation and diocese who gave their lives in the war 1939-45.
10
25-1-14
4' 4"
D
This peal was recast and enlarged in 1949, while extensions to the Cathedral were being made. W. Hare, Treasurer, Cathedral Fabric Funds from 1934, and of the Bishopric in 1926.
Prior to 1949 the Cathedral had a ring of ten bells 15cwt in F. The back six were cast by Rudhall of Gloucester and four trebles were added in 1852 cast by Mears & Co of Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London.
