All Saints' Church, Wigan

In the heart of Wigan, a church stands tall, not only in its physical stature but also in the size of its bells. All Saints' Church, on Wallgate, is home to ten bells, and three of them are larger than the Wigan Mayor's official trumpet. How did this come to be? And whose are these bells, echoing across the centuries?

The Oldest Church in Wigan All Saints' Church has a rich history dating back to the 14th century. The stone buttresses, the intricate window tracery, and the stained-glass depictions tell tales of the town's past. This historic Anglican church has undergone several changes over the centuries, with significant additions and renovations.

The Tower and the Bells The current tower of All Saints' Church was largely rebuilt in the mid-19th century. However, its history can be traced back to the 16th century, when the belfry stage was probably added. The tower houses ten bells, cast in 1935 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. The tenor bell, the heaviest, weighs 2,700 pounds, while the smallest, the treble, weighs just 16 pounds. But it’s three of the bells – the second, third, and fourth – that are larger than the mayor's trumpet, having been cast in the 17th century by the same bellfounder.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons