Come and Learn to Ring!
With thanks to and acknowledgment of the
Association of Ringing Teachers
Welcome to the world of change ringing!
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Inhabited by friendly people (like you!)
Ageless!
Sociable!
Inclusive: open to all, of any faith or none
Healthy: physical and mental workouts
A sport, an art, a mental challenge, a spiritual pursuit, a
hobby, ‘giving something back to the community’: you
decide!
Old but not old-fashioned!
• Technology
• simulators with silenced bells when teaching
• apps so you use your ‘phone, iPad or laptop
• Social Media
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Facebook
Twitter
BellBoard
Web sites
• Training & Mentoring
• Residential and non-residential courses
• Association training days
• Open Days
• Heritage or any practice night or Sunday. Because we have to operate as a team to make our
ringing successful, we tend to be a friendly bunch.
• Competitions
• groups based on professions (eg police) or interests (eg cycling)
• Associations, Inter Association
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I’m interested but how do I start??
• Turn up at local tower on practice night or at Sunday
ringing!
• You WILL be made WELCOME !
• Get a feel for what it’s about
• 1 to 1 sessions with instructor
• Start ringing with others
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OK, so what is the ringing journey?
• Destination and speed up to you
• Learn basics, and leave it there?
• Gradually learn more and become more skilled (surprise
yourself!)?
• Plan for the journey?
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Right: so what can I expect?
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First, learn to ‘handle’ the bell
Instructor will build your skills gradually and safely
Learning to control a bell’s swing takes c7-15 hours
Learn to catch the rope and ‘feel’ the bell through it
Learn how much to pull or ‘check’ the swing to keep bell in
its place
• Once mastered, join others in ‘rounds’
• You are now part of the team!
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So what does the team do, exactly?
• First ring ‘rounds’, the bells ringing in note sequence
from highest to lowest
• Important to use both ears and eyes
• Sounding right (‘striking well’) critical; pleasant sound
better than a crashing one!
• Next step: call changes = conductor calls out the
changing positions of the bells
• Some ringers are happy to stay at this stage
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What are the next stages?
• After call changes you can learn ‘methods’ (tunes)
• First ‘method’ is plain hunting, moving your bell one
place up or down the sequence
• ‘Ropesight’ is developed; you begin to ‘see’ the other
bells and know their positions as well as yours
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And further stages?
• Real method ringing
• Learning how patterns with long sequences of changes
are constructed
• ‘Practice, practice, practice’ develops your skills
• Patterns are at leading edge of mathematical theory but
even the most complex depend on simple rules
• Memorise the rules and patterns and experience the
pleasure that comes from a well-struck and completed
method
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Is that it?
• Not in the least!
• Step by step you progress in complexity
• methods
• number of bells
• length of ringing: quarter peals and full peals
• ‘Call’ changes or methods yourself
• Help new ringers
• Enjoyable, rewarding and life-affirming!
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Before you buy in, read the reviews!
‘’We usually go to the pub after
ringing – that’s a great social get
together.’’
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‘’I enjoy outings to other towers most – you see so many interesting places
and meet new people. Our weekend away in East Anglia was brilliant!!’’
‘’After 25 years ringing I finally got to ring
at St Paul’s – now I have rung in all the
cathedrals with bells!!’’
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We hope this has given you some idea about what
learning to ring bells is about, but the really best way to
find out is to turn up and have a go!
We’ll be only too happy to answer any questions so
contact us, your local Tower or Association.
Further PowerPoint resources available from
the Central Council:
The following presentations offer greater detail than this general overview:
An Introduction to English Bell Ringing - a general overview
The History of English Bells and Bell Ringing - for those interested in the
historical aspects
The Science of English bell ringing - for those with a scientific or
mathematical interest
Restoration Appeal - a template to use as a guide when starting
an appeal
Online addresses
Discover Bell Ringing - www.bellringing.org
Association of Ringing Teachers - www.ringingteachers.org
Learning the Ropes - www.learningtheropes.org
Change Ringing Resources - www.ringing.info
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers - www.cccbr.org.uk
The Ringing World - www.ringingworld.co.uk
Doves Guide for Church Bell Ringers - dove.cccbr.org.uk
Ringing at University - www.universityringing.org
Other media
Facebook:
Association of Ringing Teachers
Bellringers
CCCBR
Learning the Ropes
…search bell ringing for many other local groups and Associations
Twitter:
Association of Ringing Teachers - @ringingteachers
Learning the Ropes - @LtRringers
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers - @ccringing
We hope you have found this presentation
interesting.
For further information please visit:
https://cccbr.org.uk/services/pr/
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