Excerpt from book by George Skinner

The Church Bells

St Peter’s church tower did not come complete with bells in 1850. However a peal of six bells was purchased from Sheffield steel foundry Naylor Vickers & Co. and installed in December 18609 - and has remained in use for 150 years.

John Hick organised the purchase and installation of the bells, along with a church clock, both of which were paid for by subscriptions, church collections and a substantial gift from John Hick himself (amounting to half the total cost)10. More

than 100 people from the village and further afield contributed to the subscription list donating amounts from six pence to twenty pounds. John clearly made good use of his contacts and subscribers included Bolton MP (and later Mayor) Willam Gray, inventor James Kay of Turton Tower, William Bashall and William Boardman (owners of Farrinton Mill near Preston), and more locally, Benjamin Helme (landlord of the Black Dog) as well as many other villagers.

Benjamin Helme donated

26 pounds, 19 shillings and 8.5 pence

Contributing to the

399 pounds, 10 shillings and 2.5 pence raised