
The Bells
St Hilda’s church has a fine ring of 1949 Mears & Stainbank bells. The tenor bells weighs 14-1-21, 733 kg, and is tuned to F♯.
Peal 1,014
Lancashire Association
Worsley, Greater Manchester
St Mark
Friday, 4 January 2019 in 3h 13 (24–0–7 in D)
5,040 Nideggen Surprise Royal
Composed by T W Griffiths
[500th peal together: 6 & 7.]
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.
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
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)
1,000th peal: 6
Immanuel Church was completed in 1837 to an original design by J and T Stones. A chancel, transepts, a small chapel and an organ chamber were added by 1867 to a design by J & J M Hay.
Originally, the Church had six bells cast in 1878. The ring was augmented to eight in 1913 with the addition of two treble bells.
Dedication: Immanuel (Parish Church)
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 11-0-21 (568 kg) in G
Cast: Bells 1 & 2 1913 by John Taylor and Co. Bell 3 – 8 1878 by John Taylor and Co.
Association: Lancashire Association / Blackburn Branch
Practice Night: Thursday 7.30 pm to 9 pm
Sunday Ringing: None
Address: BB5 3QS (Google Maps)
There is a nearby free car park, accessed from Willow Park off New Lane, to the east of the Church with footpath access to the Church gate.
Dedication: Saint Chad
Bells: 8 bells. Tenor 10-1-6 (523 kg) in G
Association: Yorkshire Association / Western Branch
Practice Night: Wednesday 8 pm
Sunday Ringing: 10.30 am
Address: OL3 6LW (Google Maps)
There is parking outside the entrance to the church.
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.
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.
Non Association
Farnworth and Kearsley, Greater Manchester
St John
Friday, 23 October 2015 in 2h42 (12–1–8 in G)
5,088 Cambridge Surprise Major
Composed by J. Carter & J. Brannan
40 years ago, on Friday 24th October, 1975 a “peal” of 5088 Cambridge S. Major composed by John Carter was rung at this tower. Some 7 years later the composition was found to be false and the “peal” had to be withdrawn. Tonight matters have been put right with a true version of Carter’s composition, which only differs in the final 3 courses, being successfully rung. Some interesting statistics:- same ringer on 4th, same ringer on 8th, same conductor and the same time as 40 years ago!