Bellringing

For more information on becoming a Bellringer, contact the Tower Captain. New recruits are always welcome, as are visiting ringers. Ringers come from all walks of life and most age groups, and need not be church-goers. Bellringing is a group activity that combines physical coordination and mental alertness to produce the unique sounds of change ringing. This combination of mental and physical skills, teamwork, and the rich sounds that are produced, ensures a lifetime’s enjoyment. Many people ring as a contribution to church and community life; others enjoy learning a traditional skill which has been passed down for centuries. Ringers everywhere enjoy the social aspects of their hobby, meeting regularly to ring bells for various occasions. Visiting other towers is encouraged, and a good way to meet people when travelling. Bellringing does not require great physical strength, nor do you need any knowledge of music or mathematics. It’s all about rhythm, memory and concentration. Although a bell rests with its mouth facing downwards, the English tradition of bellringing requires that the bell be raised to the “up” position. The bells swing through a full circle each time they ring. You will need some intensive practice at the outset – perhaps a dozen one-to-one lessons to develop the technique to ring your bell “to the balance”. With that skill acquired, you will quickly become a useful member of the band, attending our weekly practice (Tuesdays 6-8pm) and ringing on Sunday mornings and for special occasions. Change ringing comes next, with its intriguing mix of quick-thinking, listening, vision (“ropesight”) and fine-tuning of the physical skills. How rapidly and how far you advance depends mainly on opportunity and enthusiasm, but the feeling of achievement and fun starts from the beginning.

Many people find ringing quite addictive and it is common to find older ringers who started ringing when they were in their teens and have never grown tired of it.