FROM THE VIDEO ARCHIVES: ST ANDREWS CHURCH, ECCLES PART 3 - BATS IN THE BELFRY

Their are some lovely little aspects in the church to look out for, for instance the carved wooden reredos behind the altar which depicts The Last Supper and was installed in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. 

What I think is unusual is that Judas is shown sat at the front of the table, clutching his bag of silver and looking suitabally remorseful. Compare this to the famous Da Vinci painting where he is shown standing at the back of the table talking to the rest of the apostles; I wonder if the author Dan Brown has seen this carving? 

The Angel Corbels high up on the church walls I find fascinating. Each one is of a diffrent design, most of them holding musical instruments, one has a wreath of daises on its head in memory of a baby girl called Margaret. 

Another is holding a medal, The Star of Khedive, from the Egyptian Campaign of 1881 in memory of a local man who was killed, and don't forget the Angel Corbel to commemmorate the Sunderland disaster we discovered in Part 1 of this series - each is unique and all have a story to tell. 

The stained glass window manufacturer Alfred Hemmings has several windows in the church. 

One that is most unusual tells the story of how God looked after Abraham's concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael when they were sent away after Abraham's wife had a son. 

Try and spot the small bat underneath the inscription: "For I Will Make Him A Great Nation". 

I have no idea of the significance of the bat, but it shows the amazing level detail in these windows. Towards the bottom of the video there is also a snake coming out of the water, perhaps poised to strike somebody? 

Finally we go up the church belltower - this is not a visit for the claustrophobic - it is a long way up a tiny stone carved spiral staircase, three floors to be exact, with no lighting! 

On the second floor we found a carved memorial stone set into the staircase which gives the names of several bishops from the 1880s. 

What a strange place to set a memorial, I doubt very much if many people have seen this. 

At last, some 70 feet above the ground we come to the church bell! To me it looked to be set in a quite precarious wooden housing but Kevin Walton assures me that is quite safe. 

It does have an interesting story, coming from St Peter's Church in St Peter's Square, Manchester, which was demolished in 1905 and dating all the way back to the 1790s. 

The best was for last a climb onto the roof of the church, some 100 feet high which gives a great view over Eccles and the surrounding area, sadly the weather wasn't fantastic great but you still get a great view and it was well worth getting filthy just to say that I have been to the top of the church, also the kind chaps let me ring the bell, as they almost say, ask not whom tolls the bell for it was me! 

This article first appeared on SalfordOnline on the 8th of March 2012, it is lovingly republished here courtesy of alleged vampire and confirmed fruit bat, Mr Tony Flynn. Video by young Tom Rodgers.