The still chill evening was pierced by the sudden peel of bells across Ashton last Thursday evening (10 March).

The magnificent peel of 13 bells sounded out from St Michael and All Angels Church across the town, and was met with a flurry of feedback on social media with everyone delighted to hear the magnificent sound - although questioning the significance of the sound.

Michael Winterbottom, chair of the district church council, admitted he was amazed and delighted by the response he had received.

“The bells have not been rung for quite a number of years and certainly not since Covid,” he said.

He revealed that the bells had been rung courtesy of the Manchester Cathedral Bell Ringers who had come to the church simply for a practice session.

“They actually only have 10 bells at the cathedral so came to us,” explained Michael.

“We had our own bell ringers back in the ‘80s and we have kept the bells in good condition and it is great to hear them - although they don’t get rung that often as there just aren’t the number of bell ringing groups anymore. Naturally with the pandemic, bell ringers have not been able to get together either.”

He said he had been surprised by the reaction to the ringing, saying he had received scores of delighted local messages, but also feedback from across the globe after videos were posted on the church’s Facebook page.

“People who had moved away are members of the group and were delighted to hear the bells peel,” he said.

Michael has pledged to let everyone know the next time the bells will sound and says plans are afoot for a special ringing to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.

He thanked the appreciative audience on the night and meanwhile says anyone interested in starting a bell ringing group - and finding someone to train them - is more than welcome to get in touch.

Michael revealed the history behind the bells, stating that there are not many parish churches that can boast 13 bells, and originally the church had a peel of eight when it opened in 1779. Two more were added  in 1790.

In 1818 when the third tower was built, the treble bell was thrown out, two recast and a tenor added. 

When the tower was again rebuilt in 1888, two more trebles were added making a peel of 12, with the 13th bell added in 1926. 

Some of the bells bear mottos, ‘When you ring us we’ll sweetly sing’ , ‘Peace and good neighbourhood’ ‘Prosperity to this parish’, ‘Success to trade.’ 

The treble bell of 1779 bears the words... ‘To the church the living call and to the grave do summon all.’

Prior to the peel begun in 1779 the church did have other bells, at least four in 1552, two more in 1679. These bells were recast in 1779, so in that sense everyone who heard the peel heard them all.

The peel attracted an appreciative audience and much feedback.

You can visit the church’s Facebook page to hear and watch a video of the bell ringing.

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