The Middle Ages and the Reformation
The first reference to a Church in Chorley is in 1362. We do not know what this building looked like (though parts of it survive in the present Church), but it is almost certain to have at least one bell to summon the people to worship.
There was also a small scaring bell, which was rung at particular solemn moments of the Eucharist. This bell hung from a small arch over the chancel which still survives to this day.
The present Tower seems to be rather younger than the original Church building, and is usually dated at around 1400. Its size is such that it was probably created to house more than one bell.
Certainly, by 1552, the Church had 'three Greater belles'. These were listed in the inventory of Church Goods made that year by King Edward VI's Commissioners when they visited Chorley. One or more of these three bells may have been installed when the Tower was first built, only 150 years before.
Five years earlier, in the summer of 1547, a set of Injunctions had been issued in the name of the new King, the son of Henry VIII. The purpose of these Injunctions was to see that all Churches conformed to the new requirements for worship commanded following the break from Rome. One of these injunctions forbade the ringing of bells during the service "except one bell in convenient time to be rung or knolled before the sermon. " Since only one bell was know required, the others were often sold off. This may well have happened at Chorley for the next record we have speaks of only one 'great bell.'
CONTINUED >>>
