Lancashire Association
Blackburn, Lancashire
Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin
Thursday, 28 December 2017 in 45 m (8–1–6 in A)
1,260 Julie McDonnell Doubles
Rung on the front 6. Rung to support the Strike Back Against Blood Cancer Cathedrals, Minsters and Abbeys challenge.
From right to left: Tom, Rob, Charlotte, Melanie, Ray & John.
12 bells; 82-0-11 in Ab
There is a bourdon bell, Great George, and a ring of thirteen bells hung in the central tower at Liverpool Cathedral. The thirteen ringing bells, a twelve with a sharp second, were all cast in 1939 by Mears and Stainbank. The tenor bell, which weighs in at 82 cwt (82-0-11) and is A♭, is the heaviest ringing bell in the world. This gives Liverpool Cathedral the unique honour of being the heaviest twelve, ten, eight and six.
Everything about Liverpool Cathedral, including the ring of bells, is pretty stunning. The ringing chamber is vast and the bells are rung from a brick and wood platform about three feet above floor level in a ringing chamber 8 floors up.
The ringing room and platform at Liverpool Cathedral.
Ringing the bells is an experience.
The bells of Liverpool Cathedral hung in their concrete radial frame.
Dedication: Liverpool, The Cathedral Church of Christ
Bells: 13 bells. Tenor 82-0-11 in A♭
Association: Lancashire Association / Liverpool Branch
Practice Night: Saturday 6 pm to 7.30 pm
Sunday Ringing: Generally, 1.30 pm to 3 pm on the first Sunday. 9.30 am to 10.30 am on the third Sunday.
Address: St James Mount, Liverpool. L1 7AZ
There is a large car park beside the Cathedral. The entrance is via Cathedral Gate. Parking is normally free for visiting bell ringers. Ask at the tower for more information.
Find Liverpool Cathedral on Google Maps
There are various clips of the bells being rung available on YouTube. Here are a few of video recordings I have made.
S James, East Crompton. 8 bells. 9-3-15
Also known as Shaw, Greater Manchester. There are eight bells hung in the tower at Saint Jame’s Church. All of the bells were cast in 1955 by Mears & Stainbank. The bells are rung from the ground floor.
Dedication: Saint James
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 9-3-15 (588 kg) in G♯ – A ground floor ring
Association: Lancashire Association / Rochdale Branch
Practice Night: Wednesday (no time is given)
Sunday Ringing: Not Known.
Address: Saint Jame Shaw, Shaw. OL2 7TD
There is parking on nearby streets and a small car park at the junction of Milnrow Road and Salts Street to the east of the church.
Two peals separated by 40 years.
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
First peal: 1, 2, 3 and 5
Longest length: 4 & 6
First peal as conductor: 6
Lancashire Association
Worsley, Greater Manchester
St Mark
Friday, 4th November 2016 in 3h 08 (24–0–7 in D)
5,000 Edenfield Surprise Royal
Composed by A M Barber
Rung on the 40th anniversary of first peal: 7
900th peal: 6
100th together: 7 & 8.
Lancashire Association
Blackburn, Lancashire
St Jude
Tuesday, 30 August 2016 in 44m (6–0–25 in D♭)
1,260 Plain Bob Doubles
Rung on the back six by members of the regular Sunday service band. First quarter peal: 6.
¼ peal band at Saint Jude’s, Blackburn following Andrea’s first quarter peal.
It’s not often I get to ring 400 peals with anyone, so I thought these three were worth a special mention.
Lancashire Association
Middleton, Greater Manchester
St Leonard
Friday 18 March 2016 in 2h48 (11-2-8 in F♯)
5,152 Darmstadtium Surprise Major
Comp. Roger Baldwin
400th peal together: 5,6
Lancashire Association
Middleton, Greater Manchester
St Leonard
Friday 9 September 2016 in 2h 53 (11-2-8 in F♯)
5,088 Stanstead Mountfitchet Surprise Major
Comp. D F Morrison (No. 2056)
Rung to celebrate the recent ordination of Karen Hamnett, Curate OLM, and Diane Taylor-Harrison, reader, both members of this congregation. Also a birthday compliment to John P Partington, former member of this peal band. 400th peal together: 4,6
Around Ringers
Richmond, North Yorkshire
St Mary
Saturday, 4 August 2018 in 2h 47 (11–1–12 in G)
5,040 Jarrow Alliance Major
Composed by M Maughan
Rung in memory of Private Reginald Brand, Yorkshire Regiment 1st/4th Bn. who died on 23rd April 1917 and is commemorated at Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, France and Private John Watkin, Tank Corps “A” Coy. 8th Bn. who died on 9th August 1918 and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. Both were ringers at this tower. Their names live for evermore. [400th peal together: 2, 6.]
Lancashire Association
Middleton, Greater Manchester
St Leonard
Friday 11 October 2017 in 2h 45 (11-2-8 in F♯)
5,024 Ely Surprise Major
Comp. D G Hull
With congratulations to Ashley Wilson on the birth of a daughter. [400th peal together: 5 & 8.]
Lancashire Association
Farnworth and Kearsley, Greater Manchester
St John
Friday, 22 April 2016 in 2h 47 (12–1–8 in G)
5090 90th Birthday Surprise Major
Composed by D F Morrison (no. 6905)
Rung on the Eve of the Feast of St George to celebrate the 90th birthdays of H.M. the Queen and of Mr Joe Thornley, for many years tower captain at Farnworth, who was instrumental in the casting/installation of the present ring for the Queen’s Coronation.
The Parish Church of Saint Leonard, Middleton.
There are nine bells hung in the tower at Saint Leonard’s Church. The oldest of these is the Sanctus bell, 0-2-24 in F#, was cast in 1614 by Robert Orwell. Of the eight ringing bells the current back six bells, 3 – 8, were cast in 1714 by Abraham I Rudhall. The two trebles were added in 1891, by Mears and Stainbank, to form the current ring of eight.
A peal of 5,300 Anniversary Surprise Major was rung in September 2014 with the following footnote to mark the 300th anniversary:
This peal is dedicated to the 300th Anniversary of the back six bells at Middleton, which were cast in 1714 by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester.Two additional treble bells were added in 1891, funded by public subscription, to augment to the current eight.
The curious-looking wooden belfry was added on top of the medieval tower in 1666. According to Saint Leonard’s website this was to enable a new set of bells to be added.
Dedication: Saint Leonard
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 11-2-18 (588 kg) in F♯
Association: Lancashire Association / Rochdale Branch
Practice Night: Monday 8pm – 9pm
Sunday Ringing: 10.15am – 10.45am
Address: New Lane, Middleton, Lancashire. M24 6BW
There is a large car park at the church when accessed from New Lane.
Find Saint Leonard’s on Google Maps
Saint Luke’s, Heywood.
There are 8 bells hung in the tower at Saint Luke’s cast by Gillett and Johnston and installed in 1911 as a tribute to King Edward VII. The tenor bell was found to be cracked in 1920 and the bells were recast. In 1971 the bells were lowered by 20 foot in the the tower to reduce sway. The original bells were cast by Mears & Co of Whitechapel London and were dedicated in 1863.
Saint Luke’s Church was consecrated in October 1862 replacing a chapel on the same site from 1552.
Dedication: Saint Luke
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 21-3-9 (626 kg) in E♭
Association: Lancashire Association / Rochdale Branch
Practice Night: Monday 7.30pm – 9pm
Sunday Ringing: 9am – 9.30am for 9.30am service
Address: York Street, Heywood, Lancashire. OL10 4NN
There is no parking at the church, but spaces are normally available in the car park beside the Civic Centre and Library. The entrance is just off Church Street (A6046) in Hornby Road.
Find Saint Luke’s on Google Maps
Saint John, Farnworth & Kearsley.
There are 8 bells hung in the tower at Saint John’s cast by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough and installed in 1954.
The Church was built in 1826 as a Waterloo church, funded on the wave of national triumph following the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, and there has been many modifications and extensions made over the years. The most recent was in 1998 and included roofing, decorating, windows and rewiring. During 2008 the church was used as a location for All The Small Things.
Peals are rung on the bells monthly by members of the Lancashire Association.
Dedication: Saint John The Evangelist
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 12-1-8 (626 kg) in G
Association: Lancashire Association / Bolton Branch
Practice Night: Currently no practice
Sunday Ringing: Currently no regular Sunday ringing
Address: Church Street, Farnworth, Bolton. BL4 8DA
Saint John’s’ church is at the bottom of Church Street in Farnworth. Although it is possible to park in Church Street, it is quite narrow and difficult to turn round, most regular visiting ringers park in Albert Street which is off Church Road. Albert Street is very close to the side entrance in Church Road and has plenty of parking on either side of the road. The Church is also very close to Farnworth railway station.
Find Saint John’s on Google Maps