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Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 11th December, 2019)

St Michael and All Angels, Dalton


St Michael and All Angels, Dalton
The WW2 memorial plaque inside the church records that the bells in the tower were installed in memory of the men who died. When I climbed into the belfry I found a single, small rusty bell - and a pair of loudspeakers. I assume the bells referred to were therefore an amplification system for broadcasting recorded bells.
St Thomas’ in Ashton-in-Makerfield had a similar installation - but the tablet there is more honest - and says that it was such a system.
Christ Church, Ince also has a WW2 tablet mentioning that the bells in the tower were installed as the memorial - but I have seen mention on this site that the bells there were a recording.

Photo: David Long  (Sony SLT-A65V)
Views: 2,205

Comment by: Ken R on 11th December 2019 at 03:59

That's a shame Rev. It kind of puts a pall over the situations.

Comment by: Mick on 11th December 2019 at 08:43

Theres a Wigan man, Ian Redmond buried in the graveyard who was killed by a Shark in the Seychelles while he was on his honeymoon

Comment by: Anne on 11th December 2019 at 08:47

Rev David, I have for many years believed that the original Saint Mary's Lower Ince also had recorded bells. It would have been approximately early 1950s when this system was installed. Can you confirm if/when?

Comment by: Alan H on 11th December 2019 at 09:16

Rev David, as a regular churchgoer and choir boy and sidesman at Christ Church, Ince, I can assure you that Rev Herbert Stoneley installed a recording of bells at the church about 1946.

Comment by: irene robertsI on 11th December 2019 at 09:18

A lovely church. My grand-daughter Edie was christened here. Yes, the bells in Ince Parish were a recording.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 11th December 2019 at 10:26

Thanks for the confirmation re. Christ Church - the original WW2 plaque was installed, presumably with the bells, in 1946 - by the Council, not the Vicar.
Anne - I hadn't heard before about there being recorded bells in the little bell tower at the old St Mary's - but the bell from it is at St Mary's now.
Ken R - you have to remember that such amplification systems were hi-tech in 1946! You need a big belfry for a decent peal of bells - if you didn't have one, an amplified recording was a good substitute.

Comment by: Anne on 11th December 2019 at 12:04

Rev David, I remember the single bell being tolled but when the recordings were heard it was quite an event. Don't think my mind is playing tricks, remember it well walking over the railway bridge on Sunday mornings.

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