They have accompanied soldiers to war, marked the passing of Queens and the making of Kings, rung out for the city’s sporting victories and tolled for every life lost in the Arena terrorist attack.
Manchester Cathedral launches A Chime for Manchester to mark the centenary of its bells.
The bells of Manchester Cathedral have marked the life of the city it serves for a century and to celebrate this special anniversary year, the cathedral has announced the launch of a new fundraising project.
Called A Chime for Manchester, the £600,000 project will see the complete refurbishment of the bell tower, the addition of two more bells to complete the set, and the composition of a unique chime for Manchester inspired by the city’s rich musical legacy.
A Chime for Manchester was launched at a special fundraising event held on the bells’ 100th anniversary earlier this month – marking a century since the bells were recast.
The composition of a new chime for the bells is being thrown open to musicians of Manchester and beyond.
‘This city is alive with music, it has a unique musical legacy,’ said The Reverend Canon Dr Ian Jorysz, Canon Precentor at Manchester Cathedral.
‘It is the only city with three internationally recognised orchestras and its very own musical sound that ranges from Joy Division and Oasis to the BBC Philharmonic, the Manchester Camerata and the Royal College.
‘Big Ben has the Westminster Chime which is allegedly based on Handel’s Messiah, and now we want to have our own Manchester Chime, unique to the tower and unique to this city’ he said.
A Chime for Manchester project will see the Cathedral’s ten bells renewed and re-harmonised – the first time since the end of the Second World War – the installation of two new bells to bring the tower up to a proper musical standard enabling the bell-ringers to maximise their repertoire, and the construction of a new bell frame for the tower.
But at the heart of the restoration project, is the ambitious plan to compose the Manchester Chime – a unique sequence for the bells of Manchester Cathedral that will play every quarter to mark the passage of time, in addition to striking the hour.
The Dean of Manchester, the Very Revd Rogers Govinder, said,
‘Our bells have always marked the passing of time in this city and in this nation. They regularly call people to prayer, they act as the only public warning system in the city, and they ring out in times of dread and in times of joy.
‘They desperately need refurbishing, and their centenary is an apt time to undertake this work.
‘Our new campaign, A Chime for Manchester is a unique opportunity for us to do just that, and to create a unique sound for the bells of Manchester Cathedral that will be heard every time the bells chime and become synonymous with the sound of the city.
‘This is our legacy, and we invite people to be part of it,’ he added.
To support the fundraising campaign or to create a chime for the bells of Manchester Cathedral click here.
Bells of Manchester Cathedral
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 lightest bell, the treble, weighs 5cwt (approx. 286kg) and the heaviest, the tenor, weighs 27cwt (approx. 1,412kg) about the same weight as a family car.
The existing oak bell frame dates back to 1867, when it was installed by Taylors of Loughborough during the tower’s rebuilding. Critically, the frame was designed without the bells present, leading to documented modifications during installation
A history of repeated modifications underscores the need for a complete replacement of the bell frame.
A Competition to create a Chime for Manchester
Manchester Cathedral has a fine ring of bells, but until now it has lacked a clock chime. We are putting that right – and want to have a chime special to Manchester.
The city is renowned for its music, old and new.
We’re looking for someone to help us to celebrate our unique culture through our new chime, with a tune that itself stands the test of time
Entrants are encouraged to reference music in their compositions associated with Greater Manchester, either contemporary or of an earlier era. The deadline is noon on Saturday 31 January 2026.
Details on how to enter the competition can be found here.
