Manchester Cathedral has premiered a new clock chime as its fundraising campaign to replace the bell tower reaches its final phase, with just over £50,000 left to raise. The winning chime has been composed by James Nissen and is based on folk singer Ewan MacColl’s ‘The Manchester Rambler’ and was heard for the first time during Sunday worship.
In October last year, Manchester Cathedral launched A Chime for Manchester, to mark the centenary of its bells and launch an important fundraising appeal. At the heart of A Chime for Manchester was this competition to compose a unique chime for Manchester, inspired by the city’s rich musical legacy.
Manchester Cathedral has a fine ring of bells, but until now it has lacked a clock chime.
The Cathedral launched the competition to find someone to help create a chime for Manchester with a tune that itself stands the test of time, and reflects compositions associated with Greater Manchester.
The fundraising campaign to renew the bell tower is now entering its final phase with just over £50,000 left to raise.
The Dean of Manchester, the Very Revd Rogers Govender, said “We’re so close to raising the full amount needed, which is fantastic, and we’re confident that with the ongoing support of the people of our city and its surroundings, we will soon be able to celebrate reaching our target. We just need a final push on this important appeal!”
With the final amount to raise, work will begin in May to secure new bells and refurbish the bell tower.
Under the overall management of Heritage Conservation Restoration Limited, scaffolding will go up on the Cathedral tower, enabling the bells to be removed so that the ten bells can be augmented to twelve and the new bell frame inserted.
It has been confirmed that John Taylor and Company of Loughborough will construct and install the new iron and steel bell frame, cast and hang three additional treble bells, and put in place sound control mechanisms in the bell tower.
This means the bells will be silent from early May. The bells are scheduled for removal from the tower from early August. The bell ringing team, who recently won a North West ringing contest will eagerly await their anticipated return to the new configuration in March 2027.
Canon Dr Ian Jorsyz, Sub Dean and Canon Precentor, said: “We are all delighted that work on this ambitious project is about to start, made possible by the generous financial support of The Julia Rausing Trust. It will draw on the indispensable expertise of John Taylor and Company, the builders of the original 1867 timber bell frame, and be overseen by Heritage Conservation Restoration Ltd with whom the Cathedral has a long-established working relationship”.
Anne Dodwell, Programme Director – Arts and Heritage at The Julia Rausing Trust, said: “The Trust is proud to have supported Manchester Cathedral with a grant of £300,000 to repair and restore the Tower Bell and Frame, and to expand the ring to 12 bells. It’s inspiring to see the remarkable progress already made by the Cathedral and City in bringing this project to life. As the appeal reaches its final stage, we hope others will be encouraged to contribute and help achieve its target. We’re excited to hear the winning chime and look forward to August, when it will ring out across the city.”
To support the final stage of the fundraising campaign please visit www.manchestercathedral.org
Manchester Cathedral’s bells have been a significant feature of central Manchester’s soundscape since medieval times, with records dating back to the 1400s. The current ten bells, located in the West Tower, were recast by Gillett and Johnston of Croydon in 1925. The bells are rung in the traditional English full-circle style, with each bell is rung by an individual ringer located in the ringing chamber lower in the West Tower.
The bells at Manchester Cathedral, photo credit: Steve Rawlins
