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St Paul’s Bell Tower Love Story
Pictures: St Paul’s Church Bell Tower 2025 vs Circa 1891
(On mobile device, tap on pic for 1891 pic, tap off pic to return to 2025)
The Essentials
Where: 178-202 Lennox Street, Maryborough
When: Sundays 8am to 9am; March 17th In honour of Maria, May 18th in honour of Edgar. December - Christmas Carols. Other special events (check with St Paul's Church).
Cost: FREE!
Discover the poignant tale of Edgar and Maria Aldridge through the remarkable bells at St Paul’s Church.
Pictures: St Paul’s Church Bell Tower 2025 vs Circa 1891
(Hover over pic to switch between 2025 and 1891)
The Essentials
Where: 178-202 Lennox Street, Maryborough
When: Sundays 8am to 9am; March 17th In honour of Maria, May 18th in honour of Edgar. December - Christmas Carols. Other special events (check with St Paul's Church).
Cost: FREE!
A Tower of Devotion: St Paul’s Rare Bells and Timeless Tale
Honouring a love story with its rare bells and stunning architecture
A stunning bell tower at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Maryborough, is acknowledged as the world’s greatest love story told with bells
St Paul’s Church welcomes visitors to explore its stunning architecture. Inside the church light filters through stained-glass windows on to intricate joinery and a unique Warrior Chapel. On the first Thursday morning of the month the church pipe organ is played for the public.
The tower and its bells were donated to Maryborough by grieving pioneer Edgar Aldridge in memory of his beloved wife, Maria.
The nine bells were cast in 1887 by Whitechapel Bell Foundry, makers of Big Ben and the Liberty Bell. Only four other peals of nine bells configured with a half tenor are thought to exist in the world.
Maryborough’s bells tolled for the first time in 1888 after being brought to the city on the Westminster, the largest ship to sail up the Mary River. After dropping off the bells and a couple of hundred immigrants, the Westminster sailed down the river and was never seen again.
Thick walls on the bell tower (it has more bricks than the picturesque church beside it) hold a moving inscription that describes the saintly virtues of Maria.
The bells ring out with hymns on Sundays between 8am and 9am and at other times when momentous events happen here or elsewhere. On Monday evenings the bellringers practice pealing of the bells. They are also rung on request for significant celebrations. Around St Patrick’s Day half-muffled bells ring not for the Irish but to mark the anniversary of the death of Maria Aldridge on March 17, 1886. They also toll half-muffled around May 18 for Edgar who died two years after Maria. In December Christmas carols are rung out.
Visitors interested in seeing inside the bell tower can ring Bell Captain Ruth Andersen on 0407687830. (If you can round up some companions you can actually arrange to play the bells for a small donation). Plus, if you are lucky enough to be in the city for the special events you can watch TV monitors on the lower floor that show the bell ringers in action.
Discover the poignant tale of Edgar and Maria Aldridge through the remarkable bells at St Paul’s Church.
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