The font rood & bells
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The font was constructed from the Reading Desk of 1853 by Messrs Earp and Hobbs, Carvers of Lower Mosely Street, Manchester in June 1898. The pedestal was shortened and a carved oak cover was provided by Langshaws and Sons of Whalley in 1899.
The bronze and copper Rood was added from St John’s, Cloughfold in 1973 when St John the Divine Church closed and the congregation joined with that of St Nicholas to form the parish of St Nicholas with St John. The rood was given in 1916 by Miss R Woodcock in memory of Lieut. P.J.Ram, killed in Mametz in 1916.
The bells were recast in 1874 by Mears and Stainbank Ltd, Whitechapel, London, rehung and increased from six to a peal of eight through the generosity of Edward Rostron at a cost of £500.00. Eight new bell ropes were purchased at a cost of £4-17-6. He was later to be buried in an oak coffin made from the old bell frame.The original six bells were hung in 1562. The picture below, shows some of the commemorative boards in the ringing chamber. One board records a peal rung in 1891, of Grandsire Triples, in a time of 2hrs.55minutes.
The first peal recorded on the new bells was on April 5th 1874 for which the ringers were paid £4-0-0.
The 14 Rules for Belfry, were erected in 1926. Rule 13 listed the charge for ringing at weddings and funerals as £6.00 whilst rule 8 stated that the Tower Keeper will receive monthly 1d. from each ringer and 1/2p from each probationer.
In January 1922, the bells were rehung in a steel frame by Taylor’s of Loughborough.
Beginning with the treble (smallest) and highest in note ) the bells are:
BELL. Cwts. Qts. Lbs. Key.
Treble 4 2 4 F
II 4 3 2 E
III 5 1 24 D
IV 6 0 25 C
V 7 0 14 B
VI 8 1 16 A
VII 10 0 11 G
Tenor 14 2 19 F
Bell 8 has the waist inscription: REVd J.B.PHILLIPS. M.A. RECTOR
LAWRENCE WHITTAKER
GEORGE PILLING
EDWARD ROSTRON
JOHN KENYON
Two notable peals recorded in the tower are:
1. A muffled peal upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, of Grandsire Triples consisting of 5,040 changes in a time of 2 hrs 42 minutes.
2. A peal on Nov 12th 1918, to mark the signing of the Armistice at the end of the First World War, of Grandsire Triples in a time of 2 hrs 41 minutes.
Visiting bands apply every year to ring the bells and permission is readily granted. We presently have 14 Bell ringers one of whom is blind.
