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Welcome – Discover Bellringing

An incredible hidden community and world

Find out more about bellringing – anywhere – not just in Derbyshire!
We will help you to try it for the first time or welcome you back to ringing

A vibrant activity for young people and adults from ALL backgrounds

fun & friends | physical & mental | amazing places & sounds

Explore more pages via the top menu – On a mobile device click the icon top right

Why do Bellringing?

More reasons to do bellringing

What will I get?

Endless opportunities to try new things in amazing places –
It could be the most diverse and interesting activity you do!

Read: Rock star Guy Pratt takes up bellringing – The Ultimate Heavy Metal

Bellringers ring tower bells, which are the loudest unamplified, and heaviest, musical instruments in the world, some centuries old!
– The ultimate heavy metal!
– Making a fabulous sound across local communities.
They are rung in the traditionally English style of full-circle ringing with a rope round a wheel.

For Anyone – For You?

Ringers come from ANY faith/belief background, even though most bell towers are at churches, and many ringers do not go to church services.

No age bias – Ringers are of any age (normally 9 to 90), with young people and adults ringing together.

Start ringing at any age from about 9 (school year 5) upwards, including students, adults and retirees.

Develops key (offline) soft skills for young people – A stand-out wow factor on CVs and applications!

A Social Team Activity

An amazing social life with new friends in your local community, county and even abroad.

Bellringing groups ring in teams with one person per bell. Each time you ring, you’ll be ringing with different people on the other bells, who help and support each other to make the best sound possible.

Mental Wellbeing

  • Great friends.
  • Mindfulness – De-stress after a busy day.
  • Endless new things to try.
  • Full of achievements.
  • A skill for life.
  • Help and support from others.

Physical Wellbeing

  • Works biceps, quads and calves with minimal force.
  • Tones core abdominal muscles and glutes.
  • Improves agility, co-ordination, and reaction times.
  • Develops muscle endurance.

    The Ultimate Heavy Metal!

    Imaging doing these:
    – Balancing hundreds of kilograms of swinging bronze above your head to split-second accuracy using just a rope!
    – Ringing bells which are centuries old!

    Amazing Places

    Visit beautiful places – All bell towers are unique, and often historic.
    Go into spaces that are normally out of bounds to the public!

    Everything you could wish for!

    What could be better than enjoying making a fabulous sound with friends of all ages, and getting a workout as you do it?
    With endless opportunities to try new things in amazing places, it could be the most diverse and interesting activity you do!
    Check out the other pages in this website to find out why ringing could be your perfect activity.

    Can I be a Ringer?

    If you are aged 9 to 80, can raise your arms, count, listen, and enjoy a challenge, then you could become a ringer.
    Starting ringing is like going on an adventure: it’s a journey with lots of fun and achievements along the way.

    Myths Busted!

    • Ringers have to be musical – NO! – Patters & sequences are used instead of music.
    • You need to be strong – NO! – The rope and wheel makes a bell swing easily, but you’ll still be using your body.
    • Ringers have to go to church – NO! – Although bells are normally in church towers, it is absolutely fine to not attend church services.
      Ringers can be of any faith background or belief.
    • It’s very loud – NO! – Sound insulation and the floor(s) between the bells and ringers provides comfortable sound levels.
    • It’s boring and just pulling a rope – NO! – Ringing is a skill, with endless opportunities, new things to try and places to visit, it will keep you hooked for ever! There are many different aspects to suit different interests.
    • You fly up in the air – NO! – Ringers let go of the sally (fluffy bit of the rope) as it rises, so they keep their feet on the floor.
    • You have to wear robes – NO! – Ringers wear normal clothes, often jeans and T-shirts.
    • It’s all old-fashioned – NO! – Computer simulators and CCTVs are used for training in some towers, and there are apps for ringers. Most towers are comfortable, welcoming spaces. Brand new methods are being rung weekly!
    • You ring only at your local church – NO! – Ringers can ring anywhere, go on visits and outings and are welcomed at other towers away from home: instant friends wherever you go.
    • It costs a lot of money – NO! – Ringing lessons are inexpensive and sometimes free, and Derbyshire association membership is under £15 a year!
    • I can’t do it because I have a bad back – You probably CAN! – The stretching & movement may ease pain & help your back condition (with medical guidance).
    • My children are too young – Probably not! – Adult ringers take children of all ages ringing (including babies): it’s quality family time. Children can begin aspects of ringing before they are 9 years old. Children & teens ring with adults as a team.
    • I’m too old to ring – Not necessarily! – Many retirees take up ringing, as well as children, teens and younger adults – and they all ring together!

    More Information and Videos

    On TV for a recruitment campaign at Killamarsh. With thanks to ITV Calendar News.

    Where Can I Try Ringing?

    Click here to Find a Bellringing Group in Derbyshire near you.
    Not every group shown has a ringing teacher, so please contact us and we’ll find a group with a ringing teacher in your area.

    Bellringing Experience Sessions for Groups and Organisations
    These can be provided for business teams, clubs, youth groups, etc. Contact us for more information.

    Not in Derbyshire? No worries! Click here to find a ringing teacher near you.

    Contact Us
    to Find Out More or to Try Ringing with a Discovery Session