At 12 noon, the Angelus tolled across Oxford Road, coinciding with the Feast of the Dedication of the Church—a fitting moment to celebrate the return of the bells to their rightful place in the life of the community.
You can watch a short video of the bells ringing here.
Fr Phil Harrison SJ, Chaplain at the Universities of Manchester Catholic Chaplaincy, said: “Everyone at Holy Name is very excited that the bells are ringing out once again across the university campus. They will help to draw more and more young people into the Church, to experience the silence and beauty of the interior where they can have a gentle encounter the Lord.”
The joyful sound signals the near completion of a year-long restoration project on the church tower, made possible with the financial support of the Jesuits in Britain, alongside the generous contributions of parishioners and several heritage grant bodies. An earlier story highlighted progress on the church’s restoration, with scaffolding revealing beautiful architectural details not easily seen from the ground.
The final phase of work, due to conclude later this month, will include structural finishing touches and the long-awaited illumination of the crucifix facing Oxford Road, flanked by the figures of John and Mary.
In a creative addition to the restoration project, a student competition at the Universities of Manchester invited young composers to write new bell tones and peals. Once fully operational, the bells will mark the hours across the university campus, ring the Angelus daily at noon, and sound special peals to mark liturgical celebrations and significant moments in the life of the parish.
Originally installed in 1931 following the completion of the tower, the bells were described at the time as giving “a voice to proclaim [the Church’s] message in the music of the Church.” A later restoration in 1977 was led by Brother Richard Hackett SJ, who documented the story behind each of the sixteen bells—each one funded by individual parishioners or parish groups, and each dedicated to Jesus, Mary, or one of the saints. In 1995, a new mechanism was installed to allow a wider variety of tunes to be played.
Today, the bells ring once more as a living symbol of continuity and renewal, honouring the faith of those who came before while inviting new generations to listen, reflect, and respond. You can see a short video of the bells ringing here.
