Magnificent, huge, and naturally, very loud, these remarkable record-breaking bells are the highest and heaviest peal of bells in the world.
Discover the unparalleled stature of the Liverpool Cathedral Bells, an unrivalled feat of engineering and sound mastery. These bells stand as the world’s highest and heaviest peal, a remarkable achievement in the realm of bell craftsmanship.
Commissioned by Liverpool businessman Thomas Bartlett, the Cathedral Bells were conceived as a testament to his vision for the city’s architectural and cultural landscape. Bartlett’s bequest, outlined in his will, facilitated the construction of a ring of twelve bells for the burgeoning Cathedral, a project that would unfold long after his passing in 1912.
It wasn’t until more than a quarter of a century later that Bartlett’s legacy materialized in the form of the Cathedral Bells, casting their impressive presence over the city. Nearly four decades would elapse before their inaugural peal reverberated through the air, by Bartlett’s enduring wish.
Today, within the ringing chamber where the Cathedral Bells find their home, rests the final resting place of Thomas Bartlett. His ashes, housed within a coffer atop a stone plinth, serve as a poignant reminder of the man whose foresight and generosity brought forth this enduring symbol of Liverpool’s cultural heritage.
Find out more facts about The Cathedral Bells below…
- The huge array of 13 bells, weighing 17 tonnes (16.5 tons), surround the massive 2.9m (9′ 6″) diameter bourdon bell ‘Great George’ which, at 15 tonnes (14.5 tons), is bigger than Big Ben and second only to ‘Great Paul’ of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
- Great George cannot be swung, so hangs in one position and is struck with a hammer.
- The number of changes able to be rung with the 13 bells is an unbelievable 479,001,600!
- The world record for the heaviest 8-bell peal, ringing over 5000 changes without stopping was achieved by Liverpool ringers in November 2008 as part of Liverpool’s celebrations of European Capital of Culture 2008.
- The bells have also been uniquely used to ring out the more contemporary tune ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon, again as part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008.
- The total weight of the steelwork holding the bells is 223.5 tonnes (220 tons).
- Each bell has a unique inscription as well as a name, and all, apart from the Tenor Bell, are taken from the Prayer Book version of Psalms (Old Testament). The Tenor Bell inscription is from the New Testament.
- Each bell has a name, chosen by people prominently associated with the Cathedral and its history, and relates to primary characters in the bible or to eminent people associated with the Cathedral or from history. The surrounding bells are shown here in descending order of weight
| Bell | Pitch | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenor Bell | A flat | Emmanuel | 4.06 tonnes (80 cwt) |
| Eleventh Bell | B flat | James | 2.69 tonnes (53 cwt) |
| Tenth Bell | C | Oswald | 2.08 tonnes (41 cwt |
| Ninth Bell | D flat | Peter | 1.78 tonnes (35 cwt) |
| Eighth Bell | E flat | Martin | 1.22 tonnes (24 cwt) |
| Seventh Bell | F | Nicholas | 0.89 tonnes (17.5 cwt) |
| Sixth Bell | G | Michael | 0.71 tonnes (14 cwt) |
| Fifth Bell | A flat | Guthlac | 0.64 tonnes (12.5 cwt) |
| Fourth Bell | B flat | Gilbert | 0.60 tonnes (11.75 cwt) |
| Third Bell | C | Chad | 0.56 tonnes ( 11 cwt) |
| Second Bell | D flat | Paul | 0.53 tonnes (10.5 cwt) |
| Sharp Second Bell | D | David | 0.53 tonnes (10.5 cwt) |
| Treble Bell | E flat | Bede | 0.51 tonnes (10 cwt) |