Bolton Parish Church celebrates Heritage Week with tower tours

To mark national Heritage Week, Bolton Parish Church staged tower tours.

The church, which dates back to 1870, is the fourth to be built on the site and covered the former parish of Bolton-Le-Moors, so-called because of the moorland which surrounds the town. 

It is Grade II* listed and although its resplendent hall is magnificent, one of its greatest facets is its tower -  standing at 55 metres or 180 feet high, it is the tallest of any parish church in the ceremonial county of Lancashire. 

The roof offers commanding views of Bolton and beyond and inside are 12 bells, which are often heard ringing throughout the town. 

Bellringers Angie Foster, left, and Linda Mort, right, with happy attendees (Image: Newsquest)

Over the past weekends, people were offered a glimpse behind the curtain to see how the bells work and take in the glorious views as part of Heritage Week. 

Luckily, the weather held up.

There were three scheduled tours, at 10am, 11.30am and 2pm, but there was so much demand for the latter that bell ringers had to put on another tour at 3pm. 

The tour showcases the bellringing room, and the rooftop - although attendees will have to scale the thick end of 200 tight spiral steps in order to get there! 

Bell ringers demonstrating (Image: Newsquest)

First stop was the bellringing room, only the 50 steps up, where bell ringers gave a demonstration of how it is done - by pulling on 80-foot ropes, which make the bells swing from side to side. 

A young lad had a go at it, but to his shock was pulled off the ground by the rope! 

Read more: Church tower views provide fascinating look at 90s’ Bolton

Read more: Meet the people inside the bell tower at Bolton Parish Church 

Read more: Bell ringers show off their skills at the parish church

Magnificent views over Bolton (Image: Newsquest)

Bell ringer, Angie Foster, has been practicing it on and off for 48 years.

She told The Bolton News: "It is just something different, I used to go to the church and hear the bells, I thought I would like to do that. 

"I have always liked to do things that are a bit different. Plus, if a church has bells then it is an instant way to make friends." 

Angie, who learnt her trade in the North East, spent a few years away from the practice before coming back to it. 

She said: "In 2018 when it was 100 years since the end of the First World War, they were calling for ringers so I came back. 

Bolton Parish Church (Image: Newsquest)

"It is a bit like riding a bike!"

The bells themselves could also be glimpsed many metres below - not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo! 

Finally, it was the march to the top, where the pièce de résistance awaited: the brilliant views. 

Everything from the town hall over to Winter Hill could be seen, as well as vistas stretching out to Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester city centre. 

Where the bells were previously hung (Image: Newsquest) One of the deputy church wardens, Trevor Whillas, said: "We do it every year for Heritage Week, allowing access to parts of the building the public wouldn't normally see. 

"A lot of people are surprised by the splendour of the architecture in here. Quite a lot of people say they have lived in Bolton all their life and have never been in. 

"There is a good turnout on open days, especially on a day like today when it is clear."