The History of St Paul's Church, Stalybridge: Factsheet
The Bells
The peal was originally cast in 1853 by the Bell Foundry of Whitechapel, London - then run by the Mears family - seven of the eight bells being the gifts of parishioners and friends, whilst the eighth bell – the tenor and largest of the peal – was placed in the church by public subscription. This latter bell, which is called into requisition more than any of the other bells by reason of the fact that it is the one tolled for service when the peal is not ringing and is also the funeral bell, was re-cast in 1893 to replace the original bell erected by subscribers in 1839.
The second largest bell was the gift of Margaret, wife of Robert Platt JP, of Stalybridge, and it is inscribed with the names of the Rev. W Worth Hoare, M A, incumbent and Daniel Hague and John Kenworthy, wardens, and bears the date 1853. Other bells bearing the same date were the gifts of Hannah, wife of James Buckley, of the Corn Mills, Stalybridge; Mary Hannay, wife of George Adshead, of Stocks, Stayley, which also bears the inscription “Gloria Deo in Excelis”; Ann and Mary Evans, of Stayley Bank, Hartshead; James Wilkinson, of Brookfield House, Stayley, with th inscription “Laus Deo”; Sarah, wife of Ralph Howard, Stalybridge; and Aaron Adshead, of Stalybridge. It was during the incumbency of th Rev. W Worth Hoare, the first Vicar of St Paul's Church (1840-1869) that the bells were installed on a wooden frame in the tower, along with the Church clock in 1853.
1929 - the bells are recast
The bells were recast in 1929 and rehung on a steel frame with “all the latest attachments for tower-bell ringing, including ball bearings by Messrs Taylor and Company, Loughborough". The first peal of the recast bells took place on May 21st 1929 before a service of rededication by the Bishop.
On the recast tenor bell appears the following inscription: “This peal was re-cast and re-hung, 1929, the cost being defrayed by a sale of work held on November 30th and December 1st 1928, a legacy of £50 from Mrs E A Booth and a ringers' effort. Bertram B Slater, M A Vicar; Joseph Sykes and Thomas Turner, wardens. Ad majorem Gloriam Dei” On the other side of the bell is the original inscription “Re-cast 1893 to replace the original bell erected by subscription 1839”
The bells at the time of being recast in 1929.
The note and weight of each bell is as follows:-
| Bell | Weight | Nominal | Note | Diameter | Cast | Founder | Canons |
| 1 | 4-1-19 | 1344.0 | E | 27.00" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 2 | 4-3-8 | 1264.0 | D# | 28.00" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 3 | 5-2-12 | 1128.0 | C# | 30.25" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 4 | 6-1-10 | 1004.0 | B | 31.75" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 5 | 7-3-15 | 894.0 | A | 34.88" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 6 | 9-2-13 | 846.0 | G# | 37.38" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 7 | 13-0-24 | 753.0 | F# | 41.63" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
| 8 | 17-3-10 | 671.0 | E | 46.38" | 1929 | John Taylor & Co | F |
Bell Ringers
Saint Paul's is lucky to have a dedicated team of bell ringers carrying on the tradition of change ringing which began at St Paul's in 1856 when a Ten Course Peal of Grandsire Triples was rung in 2 hours and 52 minutes. Many of these special peals are commemorated by plaques which can be seen in the ringing chamber in the tower. Photographs of most of these can be seen here...
The Clock Houses
In 1855 the then Earl of Stamford gave a plot of land upon which five houses were to be built. The rents from these houses were to be used for the upkeep of the clock on the church tower (a gift from the Countess of Stamford) and also for the maintenance of the bells. The houses, on Huddersfield Road, have always been known as the "Clock Houses" because on the middle house can be seen a facsimile of the church clock.
Sources:
Article in May 1929 edition of the Parish Magazine - The bells have been rehung.
Mears and Stainbank: The bell foundry Whitechapel. London: Mears and Stainbank. 1885.
Doves Guide for Church Bell Ringers