I called in at Eccles Parish Church today hoping to take some photographs of the War memorials in there which are behind the 600 year old medieval wooden door, a fascinating piece of the church's history in itself. A lady who I now, know as Wendy Fryer approached me and asked if I would like to go up the bell tower and take some photographs, I certainly would, I do recall making a short video in there about 10 years ago for SalfordOnline but it seems to have been lost over the years. Entrance to the bell tower is through a small door at the side of the main entrance,and up a winding stone, spiral staircase to the small room where the bell pulls are, eight in total. and 10 huge wooden boards listing the names of bell ringers from the parish, with the earliest board dating to 1797 and the peals of bells that were rung on special occasions, remarkable examples of social history and beautifully written out in gold lettering.. I did learn that in 1928 the church of St John the Evangelist on Deansgate, Manchester became redundant and their bells, cast in 1786 were purchased by Eccles parish Church and in 1929 the present bells were re=cast using the bells from St John's and the Eccles one's by.John Taylor, bell founders from Loughborough. The bell pulls are on the first tier of the tower the actual bells and clock mechanisms are on the two upper floors again accessible through another 30 steps, sadly I wasn't able to go up there today...one day perhaps? I went back into the church to have a look at the Rolls of Honour, there is a brass plaque listing the names of three local men who worked at Eccles Spinning Mill and made the ultimate sacrifice along with names of others from the Mill who also served, quite poignant really. On the other walls are listed the names of the Eccles men who were killed between 1914 and 1918 on two stone tablets, several hundred i would guess, such a sad waste of life. Eccles Parish Church will be remembering it's fallen in special services being held at the church over the coming weeks and if you are interested in campanology ---bell ringing, Wendy tells me that they are always on the lookout for new members to join them, with bell ringing on Thursday evenings. So if you get the chance call into the church it really is a gem in the heart of Eccles, sadly only open to the public on a Thursday from 10.30am until 3pm and obviously a Sunday morning.
