To learn campinology as someone who identifies as a pagan/witch?

I'm agnostic and an occasional church attender (once a month or so). So what I'm about to say is probably a little hypocritical.

In principle, I agree with the majority of PPs that it doesn't matter. However, some churches would be horrified (thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, etc.). To avoid any future fallings out, I would be clear from the outset about your beliefs. That way, you will know whether this is a church you are happy to ring bells for.

It's Campagnolo. Best bottom brackets ever made. Fact.

No I dont think this would be appropriate.

Well there is judgmental idiot in every religion I suppose. Personally I’d be thinking that someone’s faith and how they wish to observe it is not my business!

My parents were both vicars pre retirement. Neither would have minded at all - my dad would probably have wanted to discuss though, he finds witchcraft very interesting 😂

The nice thing about Paganism is that there is no correct way to practise, you can practise in whatever way works for you. There's no judgement from this Pagan and I've never heard the term plastic pagan either and I don't think I'd want to spend time with people who use the phrase. We need to include people in our faith rather than excluding them.

As a bellringer (but not a witch) I say yes definitely!

The church will be glad of volunteers and if people want to hear the lovely sound of church bells on a Sunday, and continue a 1000 years of tradition (in the case of my church), it takes people to step up and lend a hand.

I’m a Christian and I also love the pagan festivals that have been absorbed into the modern day church. I do try to bring a bit of the goddess into my prayer life and my home. I know that witches have had a painful history at the hands of the church but the church and nature worship have always been enmeshed in this country imo. Sitting in the pews every week I see it so clearly in the liturgy, the rituals and the pattern of the church year.

I’m sure there are elements of the conservative church that would be horrified by my views, but my little parish church would quietly welcome you in and you’d soon be part of the team. A win win for both sides.

I am a bell ringer. I don't attend but probably 1/3 do. I consider myself church adjacent. I'm glad the church is there, in a vicar of dibley kind of way.

I barely know what jobs anyone else ringing does, so other hobbies don't really come up

I am an atheist and wondered if it would be 'wrong' to take up bellringing. I am so glad I did! I've met some lovely people and it's so much fun. I've never been asked about my beliefs. I've occasionally been invited to attend church services and have just said they are not my thing. I don't think you have anything to worry about. You may be surprised how open minded and kind people can be if you are open about your beliefs. We've got one ringer who is a member of a commune for example. Nobody bats an eyelid.

Yes, please do it if you want to. British church bells are a beautiful and magical tradition and we need enthusiastic people to keep it going - it's a big commitment

I am however a loosely practicing pagan, I observe the high days and attend a weekly circle.

This is known by many as being a 'plastic pagan', especially along with the witchy tattoos.

In other words, you're not seen as taking it particularly seriously.

So I'm not sure the church would be too bothered but if you think they might, just have a word with them.

Husband is an atheist (as am I), he is really enjoying learning to ring and maintain the bells at our local church. He climbs up the ladder once a week and winds and adjusts the clock. The vicar is well aware that we are non believers but is more than happy to have him ringing.

I remember a ringer from a few years back who carried herbs in her bag for what she told me was hex protection. I guess she could have been a witch , but it didn't occur to me at the time.

@mamagogo1 are you saying paganism is silly or that the older generation getting prickly about it is silly?

Well I'm a Buddhist, and I love the sound of church bells, and from now on when I hear them I'm going to imagine them being rung by pagans, wiccans, and a variety of other folk, which has never occurred to me before. If asked I would have assumed bell ringers to be Christian so I'm tickled pink to hear that they're often not!
You sound lovely @Witchbells. ☺️

A lot of paganism was incorporated into Christianity in the UK. It was common when local traditions and religions moving into new areas merged traditions (same with voodoo and christianity around New Orleans and hindi symbolism around Islamic sites in Lahore).

Our churches are literally littered with pagan symbols so they’re probably closer beliefs than you think.

Oh and our bell ringers often will ring for 4 services - 9.30, 10, 10.30 and 11 which are at 4 different churches, not sure what that says for green credentials as they are across quite a few miles in total

Whatever rings your bell, really 😀🔔

As long as you don’t actively ridicule Christianity, wear clothing which promotes witchcraft or talk about it then they really won’t mind. The older generation can be a bit more prickly on witchcraft than younger ones (personally as a Christian I think it’s a bit silly by hey ho, whatever, we go Halloween etc). As an example, not bell ringing but a church choir as in singing in services, we had a Hindu, a Jew and a Muslim with a whole bunch of agnostics and atheists! Nobody minded at all, you need to be sympathetic to the church but not actually practicing the beliefs basically

I agree with others on the thread - I’m a bellringer. Most bellringers are not churchgoers and many are not Christians. I agree about the pub going and meeting all sorts of people. I’m glad I learned. I got a whole new social circle out of it.

There might be an expectation that once you have learned you ring for Sunday services (although unlikely to be any sort of expectation that you go to the services) and possibly other services as well.

Campanology is the study of bellringing, not bellringing itself.

I used to be a bell ringer. They don’t tend to be church goers in my experience. We used to get a few mathematicians tbh because it’s all about the numbers.