In 1874, the eight bells cost a total of £1,120 – about £158,720 in today’s money.
They can be used to ring a total of 40,320 unique patterns – a process that would take about 22 hours and 30 minutes to complete.
The first ever peal of the cathedral’s bronze bells in 1874 lasted about three and a half hours.
Mr Rae said that these days people of all ages and backgrounds took part in ringing the cathedral’s bells.
“We’ve had people as young as 12 to people in their 70s-plus ringing,” he said.
Following Friday’s event, the celebrations are expected to continue on Saturday, when members of the St Marie’s band, members of the Sheffield Universities Guild of Change Ringers and ringers from other churches will ring the cathedral’s bells.
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