The Church Bells
The set of 8 church bells were installed in 1846 by Mears and Stainbank and is the heaviest set of bells in the Fylde.
Specifications of the Bells are as follows:-
|
Tenor:- |
20 hundredwt |
2 quarters |
7 pounds |
|
7:- |
13 hundredwt |
2 quarters |
11 pounds |
|
6:- |
10 hundredwt |
1 quarters |
11 pounds |
|
5:- |
9 hundredwt |
1 quarters |
19 pounds |
|
4:- |
7 hundredwt |
2 quarters |
6 pounds |
|
3:- |
7 hundredwt |
1 quarters |
3 pounds |
|
2:- |
6 hundredwt |
0 quarters |
10 pounds |
|
1:- |
5 hundredwt |
2 quarters |
7 pounds |
|
Totals:- |
80 hundredwt |
1 quarters |
18 pounds |
The cost in 1846 was £580 and 6 shillings. In September 1922 to commemorate the centenary of the church bells, they were re hung at a cost of £250.00. Parishioners raised the money and a stone plaque inside the church displays the information. Interestingly, or perhaps alarmingly, in 1995 an estimate for repair came to £28,544.00 plus VAT. The current estimate for repairs and retuning is in the order of £55.000.00 to £75.000.00, again plus V.A.T
Around the shoulder of all the bells is the inscription:
C&G MEARS. FOUNDERS. LONDON. 1846.
Additionally around the waist of bell: -
No 4 PRESENTED BY Thomas Langton Birley, Kirkham. 1846.
No 6 PRESENTED BY Wm Birley ESQre. 1846.
No 8 Charles ) Birley Bailiffs of Kirkham.
Edmund)
James Webber, Dr Vicar
John Redder. A.M.Curate.
Edwd Bryning )
Rob Moon ) Church Wardens.
Edwd Bonney )
Additional information. Browne Willis, writing in about 1740, notes 6 bells at Kirkham but in the catalogue of Bells cast by Rudhalls of Gloucester, a ring of only 5 bells are shown with the tenor being 13 cwt
Bell ringers.
In the 1930’s the main body of ringers came from the Cookson family, with Chris Cookson being the Bell captain. This connection carries on. After the Second World War the whole team of ringers were from the Cookson family, 3 sons, one brother, 3 cousins and the bell captain being George Cookson. One of George’s sons, Keith, is still ringing and his daughter Angela also rings when in town.
The Bellringing Team in the 1930's
Back row left to right: Ephriam Parkinson; Jimmy Worthington; Jimmy Whalley; Victor Whalley (brothers) and Chris Cookson. (Grandfather to Keith Cookson-still ringing).
In 1979 I became bell captain when George passed away and am still there. For a while I had my own dynasty with both my sons and a daughter in law as part of the ringing team. All tower do struggle to maintain a band of ringers and Kirkham (St Michaels is no different). Demands of college, changes of employment, marriage, retirement etc. do drain the local band so new ringers are constantly being sought. Bell ringing can be a very useful and interesting hobby. It is a good introduction to new friends at College or work. Many ringers go on holiday to parts of the country where church bells are in working order and spend some of their holiday time going from tower to tower.
Learning the art of church bell ringing.
Bell ringing does not require great physical strength neither do you have to be musically minded. Good hand-eye co-ordination and a good ear will certainly help. Any tower with working bells will welcome new ringers. Even at St Michaels, whilst we have stopped ringing because the steeple is in a dangerous state we can still ring one bell. This is sufficient to learn the basics of bell ringing. More advanced team ringing would then have to be practised at another tower.
Practice night is traditionally Wednesday evening from 6.30pm. to 7.30p.m.but this has been suspended so any interested person can contact me and a mutual time will be arranged. Young people must be at least 12 years old & those aged between 12 and 16 do need permission from a parent or guardian
Terry Williams. Bell Captain
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