Bells are used throughout the world as part of religious services. In England during the 1600's a way of ringing Church bells developed that made a sound completely different from anywhere else in the world. During the last 400 years this technique has spread to the rest of the United Kingdom and a few other parts of the world. Of the 6000 or so churches with more than 4 bells hung for English change ringing, little over a 100 are outside the U.K.
Change ringing is a familiar sound in Towns and Villages throughout England. Each bell is a different note in the music scale, the sequence starts with the highest note and ends with the lowest note. This sequence is repeated over and over again. To generate a more interesting sound, the order of the bells can be changed hence the name "Change Ringing". Ringers are proud to continue this old tradition, passed down from generation to generation by hands on tuition.
The bells we ring vary in size according to the note. In a typical six bell tower, the smallest bell may be about 600mm in diameter weighing 150Kg and the largest 1 metre in diameter weighing 500Kg. With the bells weighing so much, safety is a primary concern. Many people ask - will I go up in the air with the bell rope ? The answer is both Yes and No, Yes the bell will easily lift a grown man off his feet, but No, you will be taught how to handle a bell safely.
Another page in this section briefly describes the training process but too avoid a lengthy explanation of the technique of bell ringing, it is preferable to go to your nearest church in these listings and find when they ring, make contact with the person in charge ( Tower Captain ) and ask to watch the bells being rung. This could be the start of a hobby that lasts a lifetime. The youngest age that most people start is about 10 years old. Many ringers continue until old age, 80 plus is surprisingly common, the exercise and concentration required helps keep them active. On your visit you will notice ringing is a wonderful team activity usually with a good social side too. Ringer will often ring the bells at more than one church, sometimes arranging outings to other parts of the country to ring at their towers.
Now a few Questions and Answers that may influence your decision to become one of the thousand of people who ring church bells.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
Why do people ring church bells? |
For a variety of reasons - A highly enjoyable team activity - Serving the Church - A way of meeting people - Continuing an Old English tradition. |
Do I have to be strong ? |
No, ringing is 10% effort and 90% skill. Therefore suitable for people of all ages. |
Do I have to be musical ? |
No, ringing is not like music, it consists of remembering patterns, similar to learning dance steps. A good memory helps. |
How long does it take to learn ? |
To safely handle a bell may take a couple of months. Unlike learning a musical instrument you cannot practice at home. Once you can handle a bell, all depends on your ambitions, some people are happy to simply ring rounds, others progress to more complicated things. Some people make ringing a peal their objective. A peal consists of ringers pulling their rope 5000 or more times, without stopping and never repeating the same sequences twice. This is a real endurance test as it last about three hours. |
What commitment do I have to make ? |
It is usually expected that once trained you will ring for Sunday services and attend on practice night. If the bug bites, this may not be enough and some people spend every moment of their spare time ringing. If you are the sort of person with a short attention span, ringing is probably not for you, this is a hobby for life. Possibly breaking only to have a family. |
How much does it cost ? |
You will not be expected to pay anything - In return for being taught to ring, people give their time for nothing too, ringing for the Church's services and special occasions. |
If you live in Worcestershire, South Birmingham or the Black Country, click on this link for a map showing your nearest church with bells.