Historic rules for bell ringers discovered ahead of blessing of new church bells this weekend

The Bishop of Middleton, the Right Reverend Mark Davies, will officially bless the new church bells at St Chad's at a service on Sunday, May 19, the Feast of Pentecost. Standing for more than 800 years on Sparrow Hill, overlooking the magnificently refurbished Town Hall, St Chad's - Rochdale's Parish Church - is the town's oldest building. The first recorded vicar was installed exactly 830 years ago.

According to Donald Fletcher's Visitor's Guide, the Vicar of Rochdale in the 1860s received a stipend that was "one of the most generous in the whole of the Church of England" because of the church's extremely large parish, and the income St Chad's received from tithes and rents on its lands, a situation which was to change with the passing of an unusual Act of Parliament - 'The Rochdale Vicarage Act' of 1866.

Formerly, the parish included land as far away as Saddleworth and Todmorden in Yorkshire, extending over some 55,000 acres. To celebrate St Chad's 800th anniversary, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the church to attend a special service in December 1994.

The church bells are housed in the tower, the oldest part of the building, the arch of which is thought to date back to the 14th century. Donald Fletcher's guide tells us that the bells, which have rung out over the town centre for generations, were first mentioned in 1552, and "were cast in Gloucester by the bell founders Rudhalls. At a vestry meeting in 1719 it was decided to increase the number of bells from five to six."

Between 1719 and 1745 'the treble bell was broken', and five new bells were ordered in 1752. A sixth bell was recast the same year, and two others added in 1787. These bells have rung out over the town until as recently as the end of last year, when they were finally removed as they were very worn and it was too expensive to repair them.

Instead, two brand-new treble bells, cast in Italy, courtesy of a bequest from John P. Partington, and eight more, from a closed church in Glodwick, Oldham, have been ordered, a total of ten new bells. They are to arrive this month and will be blessed by the Bishop of Middleton at Pentecost, on May 19.

Last month, one of the current bell ringers discovered a late 18th century inscription in the bell tower - 'rules for bell ringers' dating back to 1795. It states:

You Gentlemen that Ringers are,

Please read these Rules and take great care.

No Bell oe'rturn, for if you do,

Sixpence you pay before you go;

If you brawl, swear, ill words express,

Your forfeit then shall be no less;

Who offends, by tongue or Fingers,

Must forfeit pay to the Ringers.

Then meet in love and part in peace,

It will your comfort much increase;

Observing time, your Peals to Ring,

And humbly pray for GEORGE our KING.

1795

These were the "rules" for the bell ringers. If they overturn a bell when ringing it, they have to pay a fine of sixpence. If they fight or use bad language, they receive at least the same penalty, paid to the other bell ringers.

The verse ends with a plea to behave well, which will make them feel at ease with each other. Finally, they are asked to pray for the King - King George III (they are, after all, in church!).

Location: Rochdale, Greater Manchester