Church of St George, Bolton

The Church of St George stands on Bath Street in Bolton, a redundant church built in 1796. Its shallow chancel and south chapel were added or rebuilt in 1907 by James Simpson. The building was listed at Grade II* in 1974. It closed in 1975 and later served as a crafts centre until 2007. The church’s exterior shows the plain lines of late 18th-century design. The church once housed a set of change-ringing bells cast by John Rudhall in 1806. They were made to celebrate Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. After the church closed, the bells were saved from a scrapyard and sent to Victoria in 1977. They now form the oldest complete ring of bells in Australia. The bells were first rung in their new home in 1987. Inside, the building retains its original proportions despite later changes. The shallow chancel and south chapel add later detail to the 18th-century structure. The tower that once held the Rudhall bells is now empty. The church’s Grade II* listing recognises its architectural importance. Its quiet presence on Bath Street reflects both its past and its changed use.