On Whit Friday morning a new public clock for Failsworth, which has been purchased at a cost of about £120, raised by subscription, from Messrs WH Bailey & Co. of Salford, and erected in St John’s church tower, was started at the hour of ten, in the presence of a large concourse of people, besides the scholars attending St John’s No I and No 2 schools, the Macedonia, Bethel, and Wesleyan schools, who marched in procession to the churchyard.   The ceremony, which consisted of pulling the silk cords attached to the mechanism so as to start it, was performed by Mrs Barnes, wife of the rector, and Mrs Dr Beattie. The “Old Hundred” having been played by the splendid band of the 19th Lancashire Artillery.   The following is a description of the clock:— It is built upon a horizontal frame nearly 5ft long and 2ft wide. The whole of the wheels are of gun metal (engine cut), with polished steel pinions. The main wheels are 14ins diameter, and the others in proportion. The clock has dead beat escapement, on what is known as the pinwheel escapement principle. The weights are suspended by patent iron wire ropes, and the pendulum is a patent compensating one.   The dials, three in number, are 4ft 8ins diameter, and are filled in with opal glass for illumination. The clock itself will turn on the gas at night, and turn it off in the morning by a contrivance so arranged that the gas can be regulated to the various seasons of the year. The clock is firmly fixed on two strong beams, which are built in the wall, and is exactly like one supplied to the late Earl Rosse for conducting his astronomical observations.

Amongst the names of those who have been mainly instrumental in bringing the project to a successful issue, we may mention the following:— The Rev. Barnes, Messers Stott, Devonport, Win Thorley, Luke Dunkerley, Win Ogden, Sydney Whittaker, Win Crossley, Wm Dunkerley, Joseph Fletcher, Joseph Kershaw, and others.
 
On Saturday and Monday, over 1000 persons ascended the tower to inspect the clock, the framework of which had been painted by Robert Jackson.