St Peter's St Peter's Parish Halliwell Bolton St Peters St Andrews Smithills Barrow Bridge
knowing Christ and making Him known

The Bells of St. Peter's Church

John Betjeman wrote:
“I can make no apology for writing so much about church bells, they ring through our literature as they do our meadows and roofs.  Some may hate them for their melancholy, but they dislike them chiefly, I think, because they are reminders of eternity.  In an age of faith they were messengers of consolation.”


A Short History of St Peters Bells

The Bells were the gift of John Horrocks Ainsworth Esq., of Moss Bank House, Halliwell and were cast at the Whitechapel Foundry, London in 1843.

The Tower contains eight bells. The lightest bell is the Treble weighing 5 cwt, and the heaviest bell is the Tenor weighing 16 cwt.

In 1981, the bells were recorded by BBC Radio and included in a collection of “Christmas Bells” from Bell Towers around the UK. This was broadcast early on Christmas Morning.

In 1994, a Quarter Peal was rung in 45 minutes in memory of John F. Wood who was Tower Captain and a ringer for 63 years.

31st December 1999
Millennium Eve The Bells were rung at midnight to celebrate the new millennium. 
             
1st January 2000
St Peter’s ringers joined with other Bell Towers around the country at 12:30 noon and rang the bells for 30 minutes in celebration of the new millennium.

17th December 2002
The BBC recorded the bells for the live Christmas Day morning service broadcast on BBC TV and also for BBC Radio 4.