When St. George's Church was opened for public worship in the year 1832, it possessed only one bell, which, we are informed, rang at seven o'clock and at eight o'clock on Sunday mornings, summoned the people to the services, did duty at marriages, and tolled the knell at funerals; it also served the purpose of a 'passing bell'. For over twenty years this useful bell remained the solitary occupant of the belfry, until in the year 1853 it was replaced by a full peal of eight bells. It was then sold to Mr. Benjamin Goodfellow for £20, and was removed to his engineering works in Mottram-road.

The new bells were purchased by the proceeds of a public subscription begun in 1852, which realised £831 9s. 3d. The bells were cast by Messrs. C. and G. Mears, at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London; they were then brought to Hyde, along the Peak Forest Canal, and landed at the Wharf in Canal Street. Their arrival was, by the Hyde people of that day, regarded as an event important enough to warrant public celebration.

A parade was organised, and on the 3rd of February, 1853, the bells were conveyed up the town on a lurry from the Printworks, which was "drawn by a number of splendid horses, and accompanied by the Printworks Brass Band, playing lively music." "This novel parade," says an account of the day, "passed through the principal streets of the town on its way to the church, and was everywhere looked upon with curiosity and respect, and was hailed with joy by large crowds of people." We are told that even Dissenters grew enthusiastic over the event, which was looked upon as a matter affecting and interesting the whole town, and not church people only.

To some extent this widespread manifestation of interest is explained when it is remembered that prior to the building of the Hyde Town Hall the clock and bells of St. George's served the useful purpose of announcing the time of the day to the entire town. On the bells were the following inscriptions;- "William Sidebotham, Thomas Antrobus (church- wardens), treble; Thomas Howard, No.2; John Sidebotham, No. 3; John Wharmby, No.4; Benjamin Goodfellow, No.5; Edward Clarke, No.6; Alexander Read, M.A., incumbent No.7; Dei Gloria, St. George's Church, Hyde, tenor." It would appear that the foregoing names were cast either as a recognition of the work done for the church by the gentlemen mentioned, or on account of the generous contributions made by them to the cost of the clock and bells.

The first peal was rung on Palm Sunday, March 20th, 1853, by the Society of Change Ringers from the Parish Church, Mottram.

A special service was held in the church, the preacher being the Rev. Hart Ethelstone, M.A., incumbent of St. Mark's, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and the collectIons at the opening services amounted to £58 11s. The inauguration ceremony was continued on the Easter Tuesday following, when a true and complete pea] of 5,040 changes was rung in an "accomplished and masterly style by the celebrated campanologists in connectIon wIth St. Mary's Church, Oldham."

During the ringing of the first peal it was discovered that the bells were placed too low in the tower; it was accordingly decided to re-hang them in a higher position. During the re-hanging, on August 10th, 1853, a serious accident occurred. The sixth bell fell, breaking the leg of Mr. Wilson, the contractor, and crashing through the floor of the tower until it reached the stone floor of the main entrance porch of the church, where it broke- into the vault of Captain Clarke, which is situated under the tower; and but for the presence of a second covering stone in the vault it would, in all probability, have fallen upon and broken the coffins lying there. The bell was smashed to pieces, but a new one was cast without delay, and the full peal were then re-hung in a suitable position.

The ringers in connection with St. George's have repeatedly distinguished themselves, and on the walls of the belfry there are two Mural Tablets recording noteworthy feats. The first reads: "The St. George's Society of Change Ringers, Hyde, on the 24th day of March, 1856. Eight members of the above Society rang on these bells a peal of Grandsire Major, consisting of 9,600 changes, in 5 hours 43 minutes. The names recorded on this tablet may be regarded as those of the first band of ringers at St. George's.

The second tablet contains the inscription:- "The St. George's Society of Change Ringers, Hyde, on the 29th day of March, 1858. Seven members of the above Society, with Mr. James Adams, of Ashton, rang on these bells a Peal of Stedman Triples, consist- ing of 5,400 changes, in 3 hours and 6 mmutes.

The St. George's Ringers have also won distinction in many places outside Hyde, and were at one. time looked upon as among the best ringers in the country. They have won many prizes for change ringing, and in 1893 became possessors of the United Counties Cup for ringing, having won the cup three times. They also won, in 1895, the Hollingworth Cup for Handbell Ringing.

The St. George's bells have played no mean part in the history of the tpwn of Hyde, for they have not only rung Sunday after Sunday to call the people to the house of prayer, pealed forth joyfully on the happy occasions of births and weddings, and tolled mournfully when death has been at work in our midst, but they have also proclaimed local and national joy over the historic events of the last half century. They rang joyful peals in honour of the great victories in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, and the successful termination of the South African War in 1902.

On Palm Sunday, April 5th, 1903, the ringers celebrated the jubilee of the bells. The "North Cheshire Herald," referring to the event, complained that - "The Jubilee of Hyde St. George's Church Bells, which took place last Sunday, was celebrated in a manner scarcely adequate to the occasion. There was no public ceremony, but prior to the ringing of the Jubilee Peal, Mr. Tom Middleton and his little daughter, with a few others interested in the event, assembled in the Belfry, where the Vicar (the Rev. W. G. Bridges) made a few remarks."

In 1908 the Belfry was renovated, and a cloak-room and lavatories added for the use of the Ringers. On Saturday, July 25th, 1908, the Chester Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers held their annual meeting in St. George's Schools. As a souvenir of the occasion the Hyde ringers presented each of the visiting ringers with a handsomely printed booklet, containing a history of the St. . George's Bells, written by Mr. Tom Middleton.

From HISTORY OF HYDE (ST. GEORGE'S) CHURGH and SCHOOLS By THOMAS MIDDLETON. 1911.

In 1927 the bells were recast. At this time the weights were increased but the tuning remained the same. After silence whilst the Church was altered a band of ringers rang a peal for the Millenium. The bells are now rung regularly and also by visiting bands of ringers.