Explore bellringing and enjoy amazing views of Wrexham with St Giles tower climb

Members of the public will have the chance to take in the sights of Wrexham from one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’ this summer.

St Giles is offering visitors the chance to climb the 135-tower and find out more about the ancient skills of bellringing in the Ringing Room and see the only peal of ten bells in North Wales, which are almost 300 years old.

Once at the top of the famous tower, mentioned in an eighteenth-century poem, there will have the chance to get up close to medieval pinnacles with carvings of heads and faces and experience amazing panoramic views of Wrexham.

On a good day you can see across to the Berwyn Hills, the Mersey Estuary, and the Cheshire Plains.

The 135-foot climb is available on the first Saturday of every month between now and September, with two time slots, 11am or 12noon.

The next date is Saturday 4 May. Each visit will take around an hour.

The Vicar of St Giles, the Revd Canon Dr Jason Bray, has seen a real increase in tourism in recent years.

He said: “Our Tower Climbs continue to be popular and add an exciting addition to what we offer here at St Giles Church.

“The diversity of our visitors – from worshippers through to international tourists on almost a daily basis – never fails to amaze me and to be able to offer a warm welcome to Wrexham is very special for myself and all of our volunteers who work tirelessly.”

The Tower of St Giles is mentioned in a famous anonymous poem, called The Wonders Of Wales, dating from the end of the 18th century. It read:

“Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple,
Snowdon’s mountain without its people,
Overton yew trees, St Winifred’s Well,
Llangollen’s Bridge and Gresford’s bells.”

The poem is credited with bringing visitors to Wales at the end of the 18th century as good roads, like Thomas Telford’s London to Holyhead route, began opening up and making journeys more comfortable

The Tower Climbs are open to anyone aged eight or over. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult. Climbers must be suitably fit and able to climb and descend.

The climbs must be booked in advance with Wrexham Visitor Information Centre ([email protected] or +44(0)1978 292015) and cost just £5. The following dates are available:

• Saturday 4 May 2024 11am and 12noon
• Saturday 1 June 2024 11am and 12noon
• Saturday 6 July 2024 11am and 12noon
• Saturday 3 August 2024 11am and 12noon
• Saturday 7 September 2024 11am and 12noon

St Giles is Wales’ largest Medieval church. It is a member of the Major Churches Network, an informal group of around 600 churches in England and Wales including, amongst others, Tewkesbury Abbey and Beverley Minster.

St Giles is part of the Wrexham Mission Area, a collection of churches working together to serve the city. It is part of the Diocese of St Asaph, one of the six dioceses in the Church in Wales, an autonomous province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.